Lot 32: BERNARDUS CLARAVALLENSIS (1091-1153). Sermones super Cantica Canticorum. - Gilbertus de HOILANDIA. Sermones super Cantica Canticorum. Strassburg: Martin Flach, 1497.

2 parts in one volume, chancery 2o (308 x 210mm). Collation: π 10 a 8 b c 6 d-g 6. 8 h-r 6 s 8 ; \\i 4 A 8 B-I 6 K L 8 (π1r title, π2r Tabula alphabetica, a1r Sermo Primus, s7v colophon to part I, s8 blank, \\i1r Tabula alphabetica, A1r Gilberti sermonum Cantica canticorum liber incipit, L7r colophon to part II, L8 blank). 202 leaves. Types: 1:175 (160) (title, headlines, etc.), 5:80 (text). 52 lines and headline with marginal reference letters, double column, guide-letters. 3- to 8-line initials, some paragraph marks, initial strokes and underlinings in red, the larger initials with marginal flourishing, final colophon with 8-LINE INSCRIPTION SIGNED BY THE RUBRICATOR, Brother Simon R”sth de Marthdorff, 1505, aged sixty-seven, in the second year of the Abbotship of Martinus St”r de Lukirch. (Fo. g3 torn at upper margin, light worming at outer margin of A8 to end, slightly affecting text in the last two quires.) Contemporary German undecorated pigskin over wooden boards, contemporary manuscript label on upper cover, spine with raised bands directly lettered in ink, single fore-edge metal clasp (upper cover wormed). Provenance : Wiblingen, Benedictine monastery of St. Martin (inscription on title). The fourth Latin edition of the eighty-six sermons forming St. Bernard's allegorical and mystical exposition of the Song of Solomon. This large, fresh, finely-rubricated copy, has the added interest of being inscribed by the rubricator, Simon R”sth de Marthdorff whose skill and dedication at sixty-seven were clearly undiminished. The printer, Martin Flach, died in 1500, having been active as a journeyman as early as 1472. HC. 2859 = H 2858a; GW 3937; BMC I, 154 (IB. 2206); Polain (B) 607; IDL 764; IGI 1553; Ritter Cat. Strasbourg 49; Schmidt Flach 64; Goff B-430.