Fine Post-incunable printing by Amerbach, Petri and Froben bound in a beautiful contemporary full blind-stamped leather binding with clasps - 1506 - Augustine of Hippo

Fine Post-incunable printing by Amerbach, Petri and Froben bound in a beautiful contemporary full blind-stamped leather binding with clasps

-Augustine of Hippo

-Part 11 (of 11) of his “Opera”: “Undecima pars librorum divi Aurelii Augustini quorum mentionem non fecit in libris retractationum”

-Printed by the “Ioannes tres” or “Three Johns” 

-Amerbach, Petri and Froben in Basel, 1506

-Complete – 257 pages and 1 blank

-Folio (Size 31 x 21cm)

-Fine blind stamped leather binding with intricate tooling and 2 clasps intact. Not rebacked. Spine coloured in grey wash with later?18^th century monastic lettering overlying the original binding. Old title lettering to lower spine.

Generally near fine condition. Some minor losses to corners of the binding and mild bowing of the text block due to water staining. Finger stains in places. Some stains to inner boards and damage to last blank and last text leaf. Evidence of removal of manuscript paste downs to boards at some stage.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) was one of the most important theologians of the early church. Born in North Africa, he became bishop of Hippo in modern day Algeria where he wrote extensively. His ideas, particularly on original sin and grace, shaped Christian doctrine for centuries and formed much of the basis for Western Christianity and the Catholic church, although they were more controversial in the East. His works were read through much of the middle ages in Europe culminating in this monumental publication by the “Three Johns” of Basel – Amerbach, Petri and Froben – which was printed between 1504 and 1506. In their dedication they describe the 3 years of work which went into this publication across their three printing workshops.