Astesanus de Ast

2 volumes, folio (397 x 287mm.), 445 leaves, [*1 a-i¹⁰ k¹² l-o¹⁰ p-q⁸ r-s¹⁰ t⁸ v¹⁰⁺¹ x-z¹⁰ A⁸; B¹⁰ C¹⁰⁺¹ D-H¹⁰ I⁶ K⁸ L-S¹⁰ T⁸ V⁶ X-Z¹⁰], initial rubrication leaf, final quire bound at beginning, additional blank leaf between index and text (conjoint with rubrication leaf?), 4 leaves (in quires [v] and [C]) on half sheets with just one column of text, double column, 60 lines, gothic type, 3- to 10-line initials in red, red initial strokes, paraphs, chapter headings, headlines and underlining, manuscript signatures and quire numbers, two pinholes, stubs of pink alum-tawed index tabs, modern half morocco, spine lettered in gilt, some deckle edges, strips of old vellum manuscript used as sewing guards, leaf of early manuscript notes about divination pasted to inside rear cover of volume 1, offsetting from manuscript pastedown visible on first leaf of volume 2, some worming in the last few quires of volume 1, a few small wormholes in volume 2, old paper repairs to first leaf of volume 2

Landshut (Bavaria), Franciscan convent of St Peter and St Paul (dissolved 1802), contemporary inscription at end of each volume "Ad minores in landtzhut" and later inscription on second leaf (partly erased); erased inscription on first leaf and early shelfmarks G21 and G22 on first leaf of each volume (both Landshut?); James Elwin Millard (1823-1894), bookplate loosely inserted, together with his bibliographical notes about the book on a piece of paper (with printed heading "St Edward's School Oxford", dated Summer term 1886), and pencil note "2 vols £7.18.0", sales, Sotheby's, 25 November 1890 and 16 July 1895, but not found in the catalogues

Goff A1160; H 1888; BMC i 53; BSB-Ink A-793; Bod-inc A-476; GW 2749; Grosjean & O'Connell 7, "brown goat-skin on wooden boards"

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A TALL CRISP COPY OF THE EDITIO PRINCEPS of this classic manual of canon law, written in the early fourteenth century, and one of three editions printed by Mentelin (see lot 20). This copy has the additional leaf with instructions for the rubricator bound at the front (see GW for details), which has also been rubricated. This copy has [I⁶ K⁸], not [I⁸ K⁶] as recorded in GW and BMC, visible in both the manuscript quiring and the sewing.