Material from the 1500s

YEARTITLEDESCRIPTION
1554Commentarii in Evangelium Joannis in Tres Heptadas Digesti Basilieæ, Joannem Heruagium. Item Description: Musculus, Wolfgang (1554).  Commentarii in Evangelium Joannis in Tres Heptadas Digesti (Commentary on the Gospel of John in three parts).  Basilieæ, Joannem Heruagium. In Latin.  4to bound in leather with embossed cover design.  First edition. 973pp. plus indices and press figures. Prime candidate for a beautiful rebinding. Spine has worn away and threadbare.  Missing front endpapers. Remaining text is intact and remarkably clean and well-preserved throughout.  Features woodcut engraving on front and final verso and woodcut initials in prefaces. Has previous owner’s name in ink (1562 and 1880).  Also has “1. Corinth 10…” written on title.  Quite a remarkable text by Musculus, a reformed known to have been on the “Index Librorum Prohibitorum.” Historical Provenance:Wolfgang Musculus (1497-1563) was an influential theologian during the Reformation.  “Musculus’ facility with the biblical languages, foundational for his exegetical work, was achieved relatively late in life.  During his time spent as a Benedictine in the Lixheim cloister in the area west of Strasbourg, Musculus became known as “the Lutheran monk” for his advocacy of Protestant doctrine. It was after his departure from the monastery in 1527 that Musculus came to Strasbourg, eventually working as a clerk for Martin Bucer. Here, Musculus undertook the study of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek while attending theological lectures given by Bucer and Wolfgang Capito.  After a period as a preacher in neighboring towns, Musculus was sent to the imperial city of Augsburg in 1531. He would be a leading pastor in Augsburg for the next two decades, promoting the cause of the Reformed faction in contest with the Lutheran and Roman Catholic parties. In 1548, at the imposition of the Augsburg Interim, Musculus and his family fled the city, eventually finding temporary refuge in Zurich.  Famously, J. S. Bach used Musculus’ 1530 hymn, a paraphrase of Psalm 23, as the text for his chorale cantata Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112, which he first performed in Leipzig in 1731. Musculus’ strong stance during the Reformation earned him a place on the “Index Librorum Prohibitorum,” the Catholic church’s list of books deemed heretical or contrary to morality and Catholics were forbidden to read them without permission.  The Index that was in place until the 1960s.  Other infamous banned authors include Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Milton, John Locke and Galileo. There are very few texts by Musculus offered for sale and even fewer in private collections.  Here is a rare chance to own one of his influential commentaries and one of the original books banned by the early Roman Catholic Church. Ebay asking price $1250.00. Made Offer. Time placed Nov 30, 2022 at 10:46 PM Order number 26-09406-07266 Total $568.38 including S & H & Tax.(1 item) Sold by collector1611. Munford, Alabama, United States
1582Book Of PsalmesMiniature Book Of Psalms by John Daye BIBLE INT Very Scarce WAF No Reserve !! HERE OFFERED FOR SALE by BUY it  NOW : An EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE … BOOK of PSALMES by John Daye, 1582. N.B None recorded in Institutions (including British Library.) ESTC states only in Private Collections. This size & layout was certainly followed in early mid 17th century editions.  HOWEVER, this early printing was never collated until it appeared in 1933!! At Hodgson’s (Auction) 6th Dec, Lot 666, by Frederic Sutherland Ferguson. [F.S. Ferguson (1878-1967) original editor of STC 2nd Edition,  Also Managing Director of Bernard Quaritch Ltd.] UNFORTUNATELY LACKS ALL BEFORE ci. (16 leaves.) Complete thereafter. Despite this, a good little survivor with crisp, clean leaves, no inscriptions. Early vellum (possibly original) a little worn in places.  Accurately dated from end colophon as seen. Roman letter. Includes music scores and TWO VERSIONS of Psalm 23 !!! Size : 3 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 3/4″ (32mo.) Full Collation : A-Y8, Aa-Oo8. ESTC SYSTEM NO :  006205980 ESTC CITATION NO: 590634 STC (2nd Edition) :2461.5 WILL NEVERTHELESS APPEAL to a RANGE of COLLECTORS / INSTITUTIONS? William Cairns Books 30 Beaufort Close Lincoln Lincolnshire LN2 4SF United Kingdom. Ebay auction 24 bids.