1507 Secunda pars Summe Alberthi Magni (Albertus Magnus). Pforzheim, Basel

A 1507 printing of Albertus Magnus' Secunda par Summe Alberthi Magni: alia dicte: De Mirabili Scientia Dei, in a remarkable contemporary beveled oak pigskin binding.

Albert Magnus was a prolific author, making his works among the more common of the incunable (Latin for baby book, being just after the invention of moveable type) and post-incunable (1500 to 1520 AD) period, which makes this an affordable entry into the bindings and printings of this period.

This copy hosts a remarkable contemporary binding, with beveled oak hardwood boards, working closure clasps, raised bands and blind-tooled alum-tawed pigskin in the decorative style of the early 16th century. This binding does raise the purchase price of this work.

To be forthright, I'm slightly loathe to part with the binding; it's such an exemplary example of the period (but not a perfect condition example, there is worming and wear).

That being said, the thick paper and deep printing impressions are also a testament to the output quality of the printer, Jacobus Wolff of Pforzheim.

Truly, this book speaks to the craftsmanship of the late 15th and early 16th-century.

About Alburtus Agnus -

The Catholic Encyclopedia states, "Albertus Magnus , BLESSED ( Albert the GREAT ) , scientist , philosopher , and theologian , born c. 1206; d. at Cologne, 15 November, 1280. He is called "the Great" , and " Doctor Universalis" (Universal Doctor), in recognition of his extraordinary genius and extensive knowledge, for he was proficient in every branch of learning cultivated in his day , and surpassed all his contemporaries, except perhaps Roger Bacon ( 1214-94), in the knowledge of nature. Ulrich Engelbert, a contemporary, calls him the wonder and the miracle of his age: " Vir in omni scientiâ adeo divinus , ut nostri temporis stupor et miraculum congrue vocari possit" ( De summo bono , tr . III , iv ).

Albert's writings collected in 1899 went to thirty-eight volumes. These displayed his prolific habits and encyclopedic knowledge of topics such as logic, theology, botany, geography, astronomy, astrology, mineralogy, alchemy, zoology, physiology, phrenology, justice, law, friendship, and love. He digested, interpreted, and systematized the whole of Aristotle's works, gleaned from the Latin translations and notes of the Arabian commentators, in accordance with Church doctrine. Most modern knowledge of Aristotle was preserved and presented by Albert.

About the Printer, Jacobus Wolff von Pforzheim -

Little is known about his early career and education; records show, however, that von Pforzheim may have been closely involved with the Carthusians of Basle. The first work attributed to him is a folio entitled Quadragesimale de floribus Sapientiae from 1488. In 1497, von Pforzheim employed four apprentices to accommodate his growing business. He printed both religious and classical literature, with books including the Sermones of various saints and Church figures, the works of Albertus Magnus, and Fabulae by Aesop.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 686498; parts 1 and 2 recorded together, 40 copies listed in the world's libraries.

Possible provenance - The title-page handwritten annotation seems to have a form of the word Capuchin, indicating this work may have resided in a monastic library (the binding also hints at monastic production).

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 31 x 22 x 6 cm. Contemporary blind tooled, alum-tawed pigskin binding over bevelled oak boards with closure clasps. Spine with three raised bands; title mostly vanished (in an old hand). Boards with frames of blind fillet, with round stamps of flowers in the outer borders, and lonzenges with flowers in the inner frame. Functioning closure clasps.

There is some interesting manuscript waste on the inside of the binding. The manuscript at the gutter of the front board may be an older example, based on the handwriting style (not gothic). At the rear, you can see the unfolded leaf of a small (devotional?) and make out the word "dyabolus" within the writing. Neither fragment was large enough for me to find the context (source) but with more time and greater study it may be possible.

Pages - Title page leaf, each leaf numbered individually 1-CCXXXVII (blank 238 not present)

Collation - A8, B-Z6, AA-MM6, NN5 (blank NN6 leaf missing).

This work is often found with Part 1, and there was an index "directorium" work (to both parts 1 and 2), as well; each with their own pagination.

Condition -

See pictures. Some worming to text block and binding. Binding with wear at edges, rubbing and a little damage to base of spine. Just the slightest out-of-square. Working clasps. No binder's endpapers and very little crash (between binding and text block) material. Name and ex-library stamp on title page. Graphite mark on leaf Aii. Thumbing. Some dog eared pages, occasional page edge chip, ink spot, fox spot, etc. Some of the initials have been rubricated, but not through the whole book. Some moisture marks from the edges, sometimes straying into text; more towards rear. A little separation at gutter between some of the gatherings. 1" tear near gutter, in margin, at leaf O6. Leaf CCii verso and CCiii recto have been framed in blue and red (single fillet line around, in ruled style). 1" damage bottom margin last gathering. Blank last leaf not bound in. "Directorium" (Index) to first and second parts not in this volume.