Raymundus de Sabunde's Theologia naturalis

Raymundus de Sabunde's Theologia naturalis
Martin Flach, 1496
RAYMUNDUS DE SABUNDE (d. 1436). Theologia naturalis, sive liber creaturarum. Strasbourg: Martin Flach, 21 January 1496.

Third edition of a banned work of Lullian theology, in a contemporary binding. This important work in the development of natural theology was strongly influenced by the author’s Catalan countryman Ramon Lull, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s place in the whole “book of creation”—in addition to the revelation of scripture. The prologue was put on the Index librorum prohibitorum in 1564 for declaring that the Bible was not the only source of revealed truth, inspiring Montaigne to write a defense of him. HC 14069*; BMC I 154; BSB-Ink R-21; Bod-inc R-018; Klebs 824.2; Goff R-33; ISTC ir00033000.

Chancery folio (273 x 194mm). 162 leaves. Red penwork initials (dampstain to upper edge, some worming, heavier at ends, repair at bottom margin of first leaf). Contemporary Freiburg blindstamped calf over wooden boards [Kyriss 173, EBDB w000104, Vogel-Rolle II], paper labels, clasps (rebacked, straps renewed, some worming). Provenance: Andechs Abbey (inscription) – Munich, Carmelites (18th-century bookplate) – Munich Royal Library (duplicate note) – acquired from Bernard M. Rosenthal, New York, 21 June 1957.