Balbus's Catholicon

Balbus's Catholicon
The R-Printer (Adolf Rusch), between 1475-1477
BALBUS, Johannes (d. 1298). Catholicon. [Strasbourg: The R-Printer (Adolf Rusch), between 1475-1477.]

Fourth edition of Balbus's Catholicon, also printed by Adolf Rusch, but re-imposed. Although printed in the same type as Rusch’s earlier edition (see previous lot), this fourth edition is distinguished by the fact that this edition has 67 lines per column rather than 65 lines, making for a slightly shorter volume by about 60 pages. Although the rubricator of this copy finished his work in 1478, as attested by the date inscribed on the last page of text, the edition is dated to before 1477 because that date appears as a rubricator’s note in a copy at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. HC 2251*; BMC I 65; GW 3185; BSB-Ink B-11; Bod-Inc B-12; CIBN B-16; Goff B-23; ISTC ib00023000.

Imperial folio (472 x 317mm). 370 leaves (of 372, without first and last blanks). Lombard initials in alternating red and blue, the larger ones frequently divided, sometimes parti-colored in red and blue, red paragraph marks and capital strokes, marginal flourishing leaves (minor soiling to first and last leaves, minor worming of blank margins on some leaves). Contemporary blindstamped calf over wooden boards, blue edges, contemporary leather index tabs (worn and repaired, last quire loose, lacking straps, back cover detached). Provenance: rubricator’s date “1478” in red and blue f. 40/7v – erased monastic inscription.