Caracciolo's Sermones quadragesimales de poenitentia

Caracciolo's Sermones quadragesimales de poenitentia
Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn, 1472
CARACCIOLUS, Robertus (1425-1495). Sermones quadragesimales de poenitentia. Venice: Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn, 1472.

Lenten sermons from celebrity preacher Roberto Caracciolo—one of five editions printed in 1472. Priority has not been fully established, but this is likely the fourth edition, identical with another printing by Renner earlier that year until the last quire, which is set more tightly to end with a final blank. This early product of Renner’s press, with a "delicate roman fount" (BMC), was printed in three sections on paper stocks of mixed sizes. Caracciolo was one of the first authors to see his writings become printed best-sellers in his own lifetime. H 4428*; BSB-Ink C-128; GW 6063; Bod-inc C-072; IGI 2471; Goff C-168; ISTC ic00168000.

Chancery folio and royal quarto (273 x 197mm). 270 leaves. Red penwork initials, red paragraph marks, and capital strokes (some soiling at ends, dampstain affecting top margin). 18th-century tree calf, spine gilt with morocco title labels, edges red (upper joint starting). Provenance: some erased marginalia – acquired from Lathrop C. Harper, Inc, New York, 13 May 1955.