Schatzboechelgen der selen, Cologne, [1526], bound with similar rare printed and manuscript works, calf

Dat Schatzböchelgen der selen

A miniature sixteenth-century volume owned by Johanna von Hochsteden, a nun at Grosskönigsdorf, containing rare printed and manuscript devotional texts, comprising:

i.) Dat Schatzböchelgen der selen da innen vindet mann vil schöner gebeder dair groiss aflaiss zu gegeuen is van Sant Gregorius und viel andered Paysten. Newgedruckt. Cologne: at S. Lupus (Arnd von Aich), [1526], A-N⁸, woodcut illustrations

ii.) [Latin prayers], manuscript in red and black on vellum, 58 leaves, manuscript quiring a-f⁸ g¹⁰, 11 lines per page, with illuminated initials at the start of two groups of prayers; the first starting with a prayer to the Trinity, 'O salus altissima hominum spes alma trinitas sancta ...', followed by prayers, some carrying indulgences, some to be said at mass; the second starting with a prayer to the Virgin, 'O sanctissima gloriosissima & piissima virgo ...', and including prayers to saints connected the churches of Cologne: the Three Kings, George, Hubert, Ursula, and the 11,000 Virgins

iii.) [German prayers], manuscript in red and black on paper, 27 leaves of text (of 28), manuscript quiring h-i⁸ [k]¹² (lacking k1) [l¹⁴, all blank], 12 lines per page, the first prayer is 'Dyt synt de v verschreckunge van unsser lieve vrauwen. Ave Maria. O Maria ich vermaynen dich der verschreckynck de dyn moderliche hertz leit ...'

iv.) Hie begint die dörnen Crone unsers lieven Herenn Jesu Christi seer devoit und ynnich tzo lesen myt etlichen schönenn gebedenn van dem liden Christi mit denn figurenn. Cologne: at S. Lupus by Johann van Aich, [c. 1540], A-D⁸, woodcut illustrations

v.) Sanct Birgitten Gebet. [Cologne: Jaspar von Gennep, c. 1550], A-C⁸, title within woodcut border, woodcut illustrations

vi.) [German prayers], manuscript in red and black on paper, 6 leaves, 20 lines per page, the first heading 'Ein andechtucht geberumb gnad.', followed by another leaf containing a manuscript prayer in German

together 6 works in one volume, 16mo (88 x 63mm.), contemporary tooled calf over wooden boards, roll-tooled border with initials W.I. (Haebler I, p.273, unidentified binder; EBDB w002804), two clasps, binding slightly defective, upper cover detached, lacking both straps

A CHARMING POCKET-SIZED COMPOSITE VOLUME OF MANUSCRIPT AND PRINTED DEVOTIONAL CATHOLIC TEXTS, OWNED BY A NUN IN THE LATER SIXTEENTH CENTURY. Each of the printed texts is not recorded elsewhere; the work containing St Brigit's prayer contains a woodcut border similar to one used by Jaspar von Gennep (see VD16 G 3280, dated 1549), hence the attribution of the printing to him. The printers Arnd and his son Johann van Aich (from Aachen) were active in Cologne from 1512 until 1555 from their printshop near the St Lupus church. 

A similar miniature volume is in Cologne University Library, shelfmark AD+S257.

LITERATURE:

VD16 ZV 27875 & 27876 & 27877 (only this copy of each work listed, "Privatbesitz")

PROVENANCE:

Johanna von Hoichsteden (or Hochsteden, the daughter of Hermann Werner von Hochsteden and Catharina von Hatzfeld; Johanna was a nun at Grosskönigsdorf, died 1600), early inscription on inside lower cover; purchased in the early 1970s, by descent to the present owner