Hieronymus, Epistole [Italian], Ferrara, 1497, blue crushed morocco with the Rocco di Torrepadula arms

Hieronymus

Epistolae [Italian]; Lupus de Oliveto (Olmeto): Regula monachorum ex Epistolis S. Hieronymi excerpta [Italian] De la observatione del culto de la vera religione [translated by Mattheo da Ferrara]. Ferrara: Laurentius de Rubeis, de Valentia, 12 October 1497

Chancery folio (321 x 217mm.), 272 leaves (of 276), [*⁴] a¹⁰ b–i K l m⁸ n o⁶ p–r⁸ s–x^6.8 y z & [con] [rum] A–N⁶, double column, 46-50 lines plus headline, roman type, xylographic title-page, verso of title and facing page and K3v-K4r within architectural woodcut borders, white-on-black woodcut initials, woodcut illustrations, woodcut white-on-black printer's device below colophon, crushed blue morocco binding by Gozzi of Modena with the gilt arms of Rocco di Torrepadula, gilt edges, slipcase, lacking first 4 leaves with Life of Jerome, spine slightly rubbed and faded

One of the most elegantly illustrated works produced in Ferrara. The printing was financed by the Carmelite friar Giacomo Albertini, but after his death the sheets were inherited by his brethren at the monastery of S. Paolo in Ferrara who sold them back to Rossi.

Several states of the printing are recorded: it seems that the first issue did not contain the preliminary Life of St Jerome, and contained a dedication to one of three notables, Ercole d'Este (dated 1494), Eleanora d'Este (1495), or Doge Agostino Barbarigo (1495). A later version was issued with the Life but no dedication, and the corrected catchword on fol. 244. Mixed editions are also recorded.

This copy does not contain the 4 preliminary leaves with the life of St Jerome, and it has the incorrect spelling of the catchword on fol.244 ("CATNE" instead of "CARNE"), as well as a printed dedication to Agostino Barbarigo.

There are also differences in the woodcuts in each issue. In this copy, the border on a2 incorporates a view of St Jerome writing in his study and the pope being presented with a book.

The translator, Matteo da Ferrara, is named in the text above the colophon.

LITERATURE:

ISTC ih00178000; Sander 3404

PROVENANCE:

"Applicato alla Libraria de Capp[ucin]i [Castel?] Bolognese dal M. R. Pre[te] Fran[ces]co M^a da Bologna Prete Capp[ucin]o", inscription at foot of title-page; Principe Rocco di Torrepadula, arms on binding