Ambrose's Opera

Ambrose's Opera
Johann Amerbach, 1492
AMBROSIUS (339-397). Opera. Edited by Johann Amerbach and Johannes de Lapide. Basel: Johann Amerbach, 1492.

First edition of the works of Saint Ambrose, the 4th-century bishop of Milan, in contemporary bindings. The initiator of ideas that provided a model for the medieval conception of church and state rising above the ruin of the Roman empire, Ambrose was also highly praised for the eloquence of his Latin style. He is perhaps most famous now for his spiritual mentorship of Saint Augustine in Milan. HC 896*; BMC III 753; BSB-Ink A-480; GW 1599; Bod-inc A-228; Goff A-551; ISTC ia00551000.

Three volumes, chancery folio (vols 1-2: 308 x 207mm; vol. 3: 309 x 220mm). 860 leaves (with an extra blank bound into the final gathering of vol. 2). Greek and Roman types. Red capital strokes and paragraph marks, final vol. with blue and red brushwork initials, woodcut of Ambrosius in vol. 1 (worming and toning, worming in text in vol. 3, a few closed tears). Parts I and II in contemporary pigskin over wooden boards, Part III in contemporary Bamberg blindstamped pigskin [Kyriss 004, Bamberg Dominikanerkloster, EBDB w000077], all with brass catchplates, straps only vol. 3, paper labels on upper boards, manuscript waste in bindings, all formerly chained (wormed, vols 1-2 lacking straps). Provenance: Bibliotheca academia Erlangen (spine label and duplicate stamp in all volumes) – Saul Cohn (his sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, 19 October 1955, lot 139) – acquired there via Lucien Goldschmidt.