1617 Athanasius, Opera quae Extant Omnia. (Works of Athanasisu). Prize book with gauffered edges.

1617 printing of the works of Athanasius of Alexander, divided into five "books" with a "vita" (life) at the end.

This copy interesting because it has a lengthy collegiate prize inscription at the flyleaf, dated 1750, awarding the book to a student who was graduating into the rhetoric program.

In addition, the book has beautiful gauffering along the edges, which you don't often find from this time period (more popular in 19th century religious books).

Oddly, the binder didn't seem to find it important to bind the prefatory material, and this copy starts with the 1st page of Athanasius' Works (I make this assumption because there's no evidence of a gathering of leaves removal at the front).

About Athanasius (circa 296-373 A.D.) -

Athanasius was a church father, the chief proponent of Trinitarianism against Arianism and a noted Christian leader of the 4th century. Conflict with Arius and successive Roman emperors shaped his career.

Provenance -

1750 prize inscription from the Collegiate Church of Saint Paulinus. Given to a Gerard Joseph Rochelinsal, from Schabels. Signed by Joc Haans, Adamus Ostender and Fridericus Knepper.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 2159066, 8 copies recorded in the world's libraries.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 38 x 25 x 7 cm. Calf binding. Boards with central blind stamped arabesque medallion and an outer frame of single blind fillet with corner florets. Spine with 6 raised bands, all compartments with a central blind diamond-shaped tool of florets and vines/leaves. Gauffered edges and all edges gilt (a.e.g.). Divided into five sections, with a life of and an Index at the end.

Pages - (missing prefatory gathering), 541, [81], missing last leaf, likely blank.

Collation - (missing first gathering), A-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Eee6, Fff(5 of 6).

Condition -

See pictures. Very well-worn vellum wrapper with a little cockling, some handwriting, edge and corner wear, some starts along the joint, a tear on the back board, etc. The title has been applied, in manuscript, to the spine twice (in an old hand). Pastedown has been lifted at the top, presumably to check the vellum for ancient manuscripts. 19th century book sellers ticket on pastedown. Quite a bit of scribbling, in an old hand on flyleaf. Spilled ink stain on title page, ghosting facing pages. Pages toned throughout. Occasional fox spots, thumbing, dog-eared pages, candle ember mark, page edge chip, etc, throughout. Occasional moisture mark from edges. No rear endpaper.