![RABANUS MAURUS (c.784-856). De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo. [Strassburg: R-Press type 1 (Johann Mentelin and Adolf Rusch), c. 1473, not after 1474].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2016/CKS/2016_CKS_13730_0084_000(rabanus_maurus_de_sermonum_proprietate_sive_opus_de_universo_strassbur095838).jpg?w=1)
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RABANUS MAURUS (c.784-856). De sermonum proprietate, sive Opus de universo. [Strassburg: R-Press type 1 (Johann Mentelin and Adolf Rusch), c. 1473, not after 1474].
Royal 2° (400 x 271mm). Collation: [1-210 3-48 5-610 78 86 98 10-1110 128 13-1410 158 16-1710 18-198] (1/1 blank, 1/2r author's letter to Louis the German, 1/2v author's letter to Haymo, Bishop of Halberstadt, 1/3r chapter index, 1/4v text, 4-8 books V-VIII, 9-11 books IX-XI, 12-14 books XII-XVI, 15-17 books XVII-XX, 18-19 books XXI-XXII, 19/7-8 blank). 168 leaves (of 170, without the first and final blanks but with the penultimate blank leaf). 56 lines, double column. 2- to 10-line initials and paragraph marks in red. Type: 1:103R. (Fos 6/3v-4r lightly soiled, a few other leaves lightly discoloured, occasional small stain, few small wormholes at beginning and end.) 18th-century Dutch calf gilt, panelled sides with central floral arabesque, crown at corners, cockerel tool in spine compartments, red leather spine label, gilt edges (a few minor scuff-marks, corners bumped); red quarter-morocco slipcase (just rubbed). Provenance: Pietro Antonio Bolongaro-Crevenna (1736-92; sale Amsterdam 1789, no. 522; ticket on front pastedown) — Dukes of Arenberg (inventory label on spine) — Robert Honeyman (bookplate; sale Sotheby’s, 11 November 1980, lot 2563) — George Abrams (bookplate; sale Sotheby's, 16 November 1989, lot 108).
FIRST EDITION of what was long considered the earliest printed book on medicine. One of the great medieval encyclopedias, the De universo contains chapters of specific medical interest in book V, chapter 18, and numerous chapters on related subjects of the natural world such as plants and herbs, rocks and minerals, birds, beasts, fish, and the elements, as well as geography, astronomy, metallurgy, music and the arts. Rabanus Maurus had been a pupil of Alciun, 'who was responsible for the introduction of learning into Germany' (Stillwell); he became abbot of Fulda and archbishop of Mainz. De universo, his magnum opus, continues the tradition of the Etymologie of Isidore of Seville.
Not only has this edition been considered the first printed book on medicine, it was also believed to represent the first use of Roman type in Germany. Recent research, however, strongly suggests that the traditional date of this edition, 'before 1467', based on an inscription in the BN copy at Paris, is mistaken (possibly owing to a transposition of the final two digits of the date). The next earliest date associated with it is a purchase inscription in the copy at the Wellcome Institute, London, dated 1474. This accords with other firm dates associated with the R-Press. Adolf Rusch was once considered the printer of the 'R-Press', and his initials were thought to form the distinctive 'R' in its font. Rusch and his father-in-law Johann Mentelin are identified in a document dated 1478 as the printers of an edition of Vincent of Beauvais (Goff B-534) printed in the second type of the R-Press, but Rusch is not known to have printed independently of Mentelin (cf. Christie's Doheny I, lot 16). Manuscript precedent for the 'R' letter form exists in a writing book of 1436 at Munich University Library (see note in BMC). HC *13669; BMC I, 60; BSB-Ink H-393; Garrison and Morton 2190 (described as 'the earliest known printed book to include a section dealing with medicine'); Klebs 524.1; Osler, Inc. Medica 1; Stillwell Science 491; Goff R-1.
Royal 2° (400 x 271mm). Collation: [1-210 3-48 5-610 78 86 98 10-1110 128 13-1410 158 16-1710 18-198] (1/1 blank, 1/2r author's letter to Louis the German, 1/2v author's letter to Haymo, Bishop of Halberstadt, 1/3r chapter index, 1/4v text, 4-8 books V-VIII, 9-11 books IX-XI, 12-14 books XII-XVI, 15-17 books XVII-XX, 18-19 books XXI-XXII, 19/7-8 blank). 168 leaves (of 170, without the first and final blanks but with the penultimate blank leaf). 56 lines, double column. 2- to 10-line initials and paragraph marks in red. Type: 1:103R. (Fos 6/3v-4r lightly soiled, a few other leaves lightly discoloured, occasional small stain, few small wormholes at beginning and end.) 18th-century Dutch calf gilt, panelled sides with central floral arabesque, crown at corners, cockerel tool in spine compartments, red leather spine label, gilt edges (a few minor scuff-marks, corners bumped); red quarter-morocco slipcase (just rubbed). Provenance: Pietro Antonio Bolongaro-Crevenna (1736-92; sale Amsterdam 1789, no. 522; ticket on front pastedown) — Dukes of Arenberg (inventory label on spine) — Robert Honeyman (bookplate; sale Sotheby’s, 11 November 1980, lot 2563) — George Abrams (bookplate; sale Sotheby's, 16 November 1989, lot 108).
FIRST EDITION of what was long considered the earliest printed book on medicine. One of the great medieval encyclopedias, the De universo contains chapters of specific medical interest in book V, chapter 18, and numerous chapters on related subjects of the natural world such as plants and herbs, rocks and minerals, birds, beasts, fish, and the elements, as well as geography, astronomy, metallurgy, music and the arts. Rabanus Maurus had been a pupil of Alciun, 'who was responsible for the introduction of learning into Germany' (Stillwell); he became abbot of Fulda and archbishop of Mainz. De universo, his magnum opus, continues the tradition of the Etymologie of Isidore of Seville.
Not only has this edition been considered the first printed book on medicine, it was also believed to represent the first use of Roman type in Germany. Recent research, however, strongly suggests that the traditional date of this edition, 'before 1467', based on an inscription in the BN copy at Paris, is mistaken (possibly owing to a transposition of the final two digits of the date). The next earliest date associated with it is a purchase inscription in the copy at the Wellcome Institute, London, dated 1474. This accords with other firm dates associated with the R-Press. Adolf Rusch was once considered the printer of the 'R-Press', and his initials were thought to form the distinctive 'R' in its font. Rusch and his father-in-law Johann Mentelin are identified in a document dated 1478 as the printers of an edition of Vincent of Beauvais (Goff B-534) printed in the second type of the R-Press, but Rusch is not known to have printed independently of Mentelin (cf. Christie's Doheny I, lot 16). Manuscript precedent for the 'R' letter form exists in a writing book of 1436 at Munich University Library (see note in BMC). HC *13669; BMC I, 60; BSB-Ink H-393; Garrison and Morton 2190 (described as 'the earliest known printed book to include a section dealing with medicine'); Klebs 524.1; Osler, Inc. Medica 1; Stillwell Science 491; Goff R-1.
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