Nicolaus de Lyra's Postilla super quattuor Evangelistas

Nicolaus de Lyra's Postilla super quattuor Evangelistas
Paulus de Butzbach, 1477
NICOLAUS DE LYRA (c.1270-1349). Postilla super quattuor Evangelistas. Mantua: Paulus de Butzbach, 24 July 1477.

Third standalone edition of the fundamental reference tool for studying the Bible in the late Middle Ages. Nicolaus de Lyra’s Postilla litteralis was the definitive Biblical commentary from its composition until the Reformation, and was frequently reprinted throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. De Lyra was not without his critics, however; the famous forger Annius of Viterbo referred to him as “Nicolaus Delirans” (Crazy Nicholas). HC 10386*; BMC VII 931; BSB-Ink N-119; Bod-inc N-055; IGI 6835; Goff N-130; ISTC in00130000.

Chancery folio (282 x 191mm). 243 leaves (of 244, without initial blank). Large blue initial with red pen-flourishing (some dampstaining around the margins). Modern brown morocco. Provenance: marginalia (some trimmed at edge) – acquired from H.P. Kraus, New York, 18 April 1955.