Meder's Quadragesimale de filio prodigo

Meder's Quadragesimale de filio prodigo
Michael Furter, 1495
MEDER, Johannes (d.1518). Quadragesimale de filio prodigo. Basel: Michael Furter, 1495.

First edition of a quirky collection of illustrated Lenten sermons, in a contemporary binding. Meder, a Franciscan, was closely involved in the printing of this work, and is known to have specifically requested that Furter provide the text with illustrations. Each sermon opens with a dialogue between an angel and the prodigal son. The woodcuts have been attributed by F. Winkler to the Master of Haintz-Narr, Dürer's main collaborator in the illustration of Brant's Narrenschiff; Meder was a friend of Brant—who also contributed a prefatory poem to this work. HC 13628*; BMC III 783; BSB-Ink M-300; Bod-inc M-166; Schr 4604; Goff M-421; ISTC im00421000. See also F. Winkler, Dürer und die Illustrationen zum Narrenschiff (1951) p. 92.

Super-chancery octavo (160 x 110mm). 232 leaves. Lombard initials and capital strokes in red, full-page woodcuts and woodcut printer’s device, 2 of which highlighted in red (some dampstains, occasional spots). Contemporary pink blindstamped goatskin, spine painted gray, paper labels on front board and spine, brass catchplate, reused manuscript pastedowns and quire guards (lacking strap, losses to surface of spine and boards). Provenance: manuscript note on final leaf.