Mammotrectus super Bibliam

Mammotrectus super Bibliam
Heinrich Eggestein, c.1474
MARCHESINUS, Johannes (b. c.1300). Mammotrectus super Bibliam. [Strasbourg: ‘Printer of Henricus Arminensis type 1’ (Heinrich Eggestein), c.1474.]

Third edition of a popular guide to understanding the text of the Bible for priests, from the collection of Gherwin van Hameln and the Liberei of Saint Andreas. The Mammotrectus explains difficult words, church festivals, the legends of the saints, and various liturgical texts. The printer of this anonymous press has been suggested as Georg Reyser but the 3 types associated with it have independent histories, and books printed with Ariminensis Type 1 are now associated with Heinrich Eggestein. This copy was formerly owned by Gherwin van Hameln, who amassed one of the most important private book collections of the 15th century. Upon his death, he left his books to the library in Braunschweig—with a special stipulation that the books be made available to the city's public. HC 10552*; BMC I 78; BSB-Ink M-155; Goff M-234; ISTC im00234000.

Royal folio (382 x 262mm). 152 leaves (of 154, without first and last blanks). Pink and blue acanthus initial at beginning of Jerome’s prologue, large red and blue initials (dampstaining at edges, small repair to first blank, chip in upper edge of final leaf silked, some leaves toned). Modern brown morocco, partial manuscript title on edges indicating once bound as part of a sammelband. Provenance: Gherwin van Hameln (c.1415-1496, town clerk of Braunschweig; miniature painting of Capricorn with note “orate pro Gherwino de Hamelin”, bequeathed to:) – Library of the Church of Saint Andreas, Braunschweig (dissolved in 1753) – acquired from Bernard M. Rosenthal, 1 November 1964.