Lateran Council, Rome, 1520-1521, old calf

LATERAN COUNCIL

Sa. Lateranen. Concilium novissimum sub Iulio II et Leone X celebratum. (Rome: Giacomo Mazzocchi, 25 October 1520; errata: 31 July 1521)

folio (290 x 200mm.), large woodcut depicting the council on title-page, N1 and mm3, woodcut initials and illustrations, eighteenth-century calf, spine gilt in compartments, a few early annotations, a few pencil markings by Joseph Mendham, small repair at head of A3, tear in dd2 across edge of printed area without loss, neatly rebacked

Over 430 dignitaries attended Lateran V (1512-1517), including over 280 ranked bishop or higher, the majority from Italy or Spain, though the Greeks of Rhodes and the Maronites of Lebanon were also represented. Committees of prelates prepared materials in three groups of 20, focusing on faith; unity, peace and crusade; and reform. Their proposals were then debated in general congregations. Session VIII attempted to broker peace between Venice and the Empire, also calling for an expedition against the Turks. Hungary's attention was on the threat of a Turkish invasion; a large element in the Emperor Maximilian's letter of early 1517 comments on the Turkish occupation of Egypt.

LITERATURE:

Censimento 16 CNCE 13059; Sander 2081; Mendham R199

PROVENANCE:

"N", bishop and count of Verdun, early inscription at foot of title-page (probably Nicolas Psaume, 1518-1575, who attended the Council of Trent); J.G. Michiels, eighteenth-century ink stamp and engraved bookplate by Louis Fruijtiers; Joseph Mendham (1769-1856), sale, Sotheby's, 5 June 2013, lot 87