Conrad Gritsch's Quadragesimale

Conrad Gritsch's Quadragesimale
Anton Koberger, 1483
GRITSCH, [Conradus (not after 1409-before 20 October 1475)]. Quadragesimale. Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 7 March 1483.

A popular collection of Lenten sermons, the third of three Koberger editions, in a contemporary binding. This work is commonly identified in early printed editions as the work of Johannes Gritsch, a canon of Basel. Since 1940, however, it has been attributed to Johannes' brother, Conradus Gritsch, a Franciscan who studied in Paris and Vienna and served at various churches in Switzerland. HC 8069*; BMC II 425; BSB-Ink G-400; GW 11548; Goff G-499; ISTC ig00499000.

Chancery folio (307 x 203mm). 224 leaves (of 226, bifolium y1-8 replaced in contemporary manuscript, with addition of 2 half-sheet slips). One large pen-flourished initial in red and blue; red and blue Lombard capitals and paragraph marks, red capital strokes (some staining, a few closed tears or chips in blank margins, a few small marginal repairs, final leaf remargined at outer edge). Contemporary Nuremberg blindstamped calf over wooden boards, brass bosses, clasps (rebacked preserving portions of original spine and pastedowns). Provenance: marginalia including note of purchase for half a florin – Daniel Cappelius in Kelheim (contemporary inscription) – Andreas Haberfelzer (inscription dated 1547).