Luther, Martin

4to (7 3/8 x 5 3/8 in.; 189 x 137 mm). Gothic letter. Title within a historiated architectonic woodcut border; small stain to title-page, some neat early marginalia and underlining. Modern blue morocco.

Alexander Wheelock Thayer (1817–97, librarian and journalist; signature on front fly-leaf). acquisition: Lathrop C. Harper, 1973

VD16 L4249; Benzing, Luther 1228; Adams L1852

First edition in German, appearing virtually simultaneously with the Latin edition printed in Wittenberg by Johann Rhau-Grunenberg, of Luther's virulent retort to the Assertio septem sacramentorum adversus Martin. Lutherum of King Henry VIII (see lot 181). Henry's work was itself a response to Luther's attack on the sacramental system of the Roman Church in De captivitate Babylonica ecclesiae (see previous lot). Luther dismisses Henry's arguments as having no scriptural foundation: "He wishes with straw and hay to fight against the rock of the word of God, so that one cannot tell whether he acts so from sheer madness, or whether Henry's stupidity is innate in Henry's head, justifying the proverb: A man must be born a King, or a fool" (trans. E. S. Buchanan). Very rare.