Leonardus de Utino's Sermones de sanctis

Leonardus de Utino's Sermones de sanctis
Johann Zainer, 1475
LEONARDUS DE UTINO (c.1400-1469). Sermones de sanctis. Ulm: Johann Zainer, 1475.

Popular sermons on the saints by the preacher Leonardo Mattei of Udine, from the press of the first printer at Ulm; in a contemporary binding. The Ulm Dominicans were a major influence on Johann Zainer's printing program, and this work—with its handsome woodcut initials—was produced for them. Zainer was likely the brother of Gunther Zainer, first printer at Augsburg, both of whom were innovators in printed book illustration. “There are many beautiful woodcut capitals and pieces of border decoration in Johann Zainer’s books,” in particular from his output in the 1470s (Hind). H 16133*; BMC II 523; BSB-Ink L-111; Bod-inc L-083; Goff L158; ISTC il00158000. See also Arthur Hind, An introduction to a history of woodcut (1963), and Claire Bolton, The Fifteenth-century Printing Practices of Johann Zainer, Ulm, 1473-1478 (2016).

Royal folio (414 x 283mm). 244 leaves. Elaborate woodcut acanthus border, woodcut initials handcolored in red; red capital strokes (some dampstaining, worse at end; some leaves toned, some soiling at ends, final leaf repaired). Contemporary blindstamped calf over wooden boards, manuscript reused in binding (rebacked, worn, lacking catchplates and straps, worming). Provenance: marginalia – Weingarten, Benedictine abbey of Saint Martin (inscription) – acquired from H.P. Kraus, New York, 2 May 1955.