[Rarebooks] FS: REDUCTION: A HANDSOME 16th CENTURY RARITY

[Norman Kane]

PARS AESTIVALIS POSTILLAE DE TEMPORE, DAS IST: AUSSLEGUNG DER SONTAGLICHEN UND ETLICHER ANDERER EVANGELIEN VOM H. PFINGSTFEST AN BISS AUFFS ADVENT: DARINNEN AUFF JEDES EVANGELION ZWO, DREY, ODER ETWANN MEHR PREDIGEN BEGRIFFEN. 
by LUIS DE GRANADA; Translated by Johannes Rullius of Worms.] 
[publisher: Gerwino Calenio & Johan Quentels, Coeln [Cologne]  4to, two volumes in one. Second volume bears its own title page, with the same date and imprint as the first, and with the title beginning: PARS AESTIVALIS POSTILLAE DE SANCTIS, DAS IST AUSSLEGUNG DER FEYERTAGLICHEN EVANGELIEN, VON DEM FEST JOHANNIS DES TAUFFERS AN, BISS AUFF ANDREE: DARINNEN AUFF JEDES EVANGELION ZWO, DREY, ODER ETWANN MEHR PREDIGEN BEGRIFFEN. [On the title pages of both volumes, the title continues for another 10 lines, which describe the author, translator, etc. Coln [or Cologne]: Gerwino Calenio & Johan Q[uentels], 1588. Old vellum over inwardly beveled boards, elaborately blind stamped on the covers with decorations and religious elements typical of the period, including multiple images of Luke and John. One clasp is present, the other missing. The binding has old overlays or pieceings, possibly to eke out the material.  Perhaps the binder did not have enough of the larger sheet to completely cover the book, and the smaller piece was taken from another binding to fill the gap. 4to, [6], 318 leaves and 200 leaves. There are a few misfoliations, however the book is complete. The binding shows some soiling and slight rubbing to the corners of the rear board, but quite solid. Corner chip to title page of first volume, with loss of all but first letter of the last name of the second printer listed ("Quintals"); said corner professionally restored; archival repair and reinforcement to verso of same leaf with no loss; occasional early marginalia and marginal ink stains, and large ink spill on one leaf with bleed-through to several adjoining leaves, but with no impact on legibility; some light marginal damping to first two dozen leaves, not affecting text. Overall, a very good copy. ILLUSTRATED WITH OVER 40 HALF-PAGE WOODCUTS, depicting New Testament events, some of which are signed "H.B." The buildings, villages, ships, &c. portrayed are all anachronistically medieval, with much incidental illustration of everyday life in the 16th century. There is a curious family tree of Jesus (second volume, p. 104). Woodcut vignette on each title page; woodcut initials. Title page of first volume printed in red and black. Text consists of Biblical text with commentary concerning Sundays and festivals during the period from the Pentecost to Advent, and feast days of the saints beginning with John the Baptist. Luis de Granada (1504-1588), the famous Dominican priest and ascetical writer, was one of the most influential Spanish preachers of his era. In 1555, he was invited to Portugal, where he became confessor and counselor to Catherine, the queen regent. His mystical writings attracted the unwanted attention of the Inquisition in 1559, when his books were prohibited, but the ban was lifted in 1576. "The friend of St. Theresa, St. Peter of Alcantara, and of the noble minds in Spain of his day, no one among the three hundred Spanish mystics excels Luis de Granada in the beauty of a didactic style, variety of illustration, and soberness of statement." --Enc. Britannica, 11th edition. RARE; Our copy corresponds to the pagination of the copy  at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. KVK identifies four other institutions with holdings, all in Germany, but two of these have only the first volume and the other two have the second volume composed of only 140 pages. No copy listed at auction. OCLC lists NO COPY IN THE U.S.        A handsome rarity. [3520]  ($1100)  $650

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