451. Pelbartus de Temesvár: Sermones pomerii fratris...

... ~ divi ordinis sancti Fra(n)cisci de tempore
Hagenau, 27 July 1498. Henricus Gran. (764)p. Last leaf blank (lower part replaced). Rubricated copy with blue and red initials.
First edition of Pelbart of Temesvár’s sermons for the liturgical year, his second printed work after the Stellarium (first published on 2 May 1498). Pelbart, an Observant Franciscan, was the most significant preacher-writer of late medieval Hungary, securing a place for Hungarian sermon literature within European Christian culture. He entitled the collection Pomerium (“Orchard”), noting that just as an orchard contains many varieties of trees and fruits, so too does this work offer a multitude of sermons. The collection was divided into three parts, corresponding broadly to the Roman missal: the De sanctis (sermons on saints), the De tempore (sermons for Sundays and feasts), and the Quadragesimale (for Lent). His outlines were simple and accessible for less educated clergy, while his erudition was wide-ranging: patristic authors, classical Greek and Latin writers, Hebrew and Arabic authorities, Hungarian saints’ legends, and elements of Hungarian folklore. Written in Latin, his works circulated widely across Europe.
The Augsburg publisher Johann Rynmann quickly recognised the commercial potential of Pelbart’s and his pupil Oswaldus de Lasko’s writings, arranging for them to be printed at Heinrich Gran’s Hagenau press. Between 1498 and 1521 the three parts of the Pomerium appeared repeatedly in print, enjoying broad popularity across Central Europe.
Restored contemporary pigskin over wooden boards, blind-stamped with triple fillets dividing the covers into compartments; decorated with mandorla-shaped arrangements of vegetal stamps. Original Nuremberg clasps preserved. Spine with later whitewash carrying handwritten author’s name and shelfmark. Original pastedowns reinforced with medieval manuscript parchment waste. A clean, wide-margined copy.
Prov.: „Est Conventus Egrensis Frat. Praedic:” – from the Dominican convent of St Wenceslas, Cheb (Eger) in Bohemia.
istc ip00254000.; GW M 30552.; Apponyi: 0; RMK III 42.; CIH: 2556.; Borda MM 5: 24A. (2.)
 
Starting price: 4 500 000,-