1587 Commentaria in psalmum CXVIII per R.P. F. Alfonsum (Alfonso) de Avendano

1587 printing of the Dominican preacher Alphonse de Avendano's rich and expansive commentary on Psalm 118. In the preface, Avendano states that he preached seven years on the Psalm in Salamanca.

This copy also with attractive period manuscript spine titling, and dating.

The 1926 Dictionnaire de la Bible by Vigouroux (page 1288) tells us Avendano was from Leon, and died in Valladolid in 1596. He professed at the convent of Benavente, and before that Guadalajara.

Avendano published an equally lengthy commentary on Matthew after this work on Psalm 118.

A handful of published works cite his (perhaps jealous) dislike of the Jesuits and their missionary style.

Scarce on the market; I find few examples of it selling at auction, and Vialibri shows no other copies of Avendano works on the market.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 811556, not rare, found in many of the world's best libraries.

Censimento Nazionale delle Edizioni Italiane del XVI Secolo reference number 3502.

Physical Attributes -

Soft vellum binding, with Yapp edges and the stubs of ties; manuscript titling and dating on spine. Hints of red along the edges. Measures approximately 10.5 x 15 x 5 cm. Octavo.

Pages - (52), 480

Collation - A-E8, F12, A-Z8, Aa-Zz8, Aaa-Ooo8

Condition -

See pictures. Book is out of square. Binding with some edge wear, cockling, etc.; small chip from flap of vellum at top of front board. Tie straps missing with the stubs visible on the boards. Some dust and several spots on top edge. Spine with a later shelf mark and one wormhole. Ghosting square of facing book on rear board. Some cracking to pastedowns, parchment scrap crash peeking through at top of gutter. Some intermittent moisture stains from the edges and gutter. Occasional dog-eared page, rust spot, etc. 2" corner at bottom corner of Cc8 that does extend into text. Several other leaves with a chip to the corner. Rear pastedown with a scribbled-out manuscript note.