1590 Nicolaus Serarius (Jesuit) Commentarius. Libros Tobiam,Judith,Esther,Machabeos.

A rare Catholic commentary on Tobias, Jude, Esther and Maccabees. At the time of this listing it is the only copy available for sale online (Vialibri search). Authored by the Jesuit author Nicolaus Serarius, a German Jesuit and teacher. The book also boasts an excellent example of a bottom-edge title, as books were often stored with their page edges facing the reader in antiquity.

Provenance -

The ex libris college is Saint Charles Borromeo (Philadelphia), who recently expunged many of their antiquarian works. There is also an earlier inscription on the title page, indicating the work came from an earlier Catholic order.

Physical Attributes -

Measures 25 x 19 x 5 cm. Leather spine, pasteboard boards covered with marbled paper. Pages, (1) iv leaves, 810 numbered pages, 4 leaves of index, (1).

Condition -

See pictures. Later library binding (likely late 19th century). Leather is thin and dry, with some cracking at joints. Much edge wear with pasteboard showing at all edges. Spine has a sticker at the top and call number at the bottom. Call numbers on pastedown, pencil numbers on endpapers. Title page has written ex libris, and stamped (no test affected). Title page attached to endpapers at gutter, small space between text block at gutter. Pages have browned and are a little brittle throughout, varying. Some pages have library marks. Some pages have aged in a bizarre way, I'm unsure if it's water damage or some sort of acidic content in the paper but it looks like marbling. There are a few moisture tide marks coming down from the top edge. Foxing throughout.