Zutphen, Gerard Zerbold van (1367-1398)

Tractatus de spiritualibus ascensionibus.

      Basle, Johann Amerbach and Johann Petri, before 1489. 8vo; 5.9 in x 4.3 in. (68) leaves. (GW 10689; Goff G-177) Full Calf binding. Good condition. The work at hand is one of Zutphen's two main works. Its systematic structure and emphasis on practical meditation had a great influence on later mystics such as Ignatius of Loyola. It was very popular during the Middle Ages. The text is decorated with numerous beautiful initials. These are carefully drawn and alternatingly coloured in red and blue. With a size of up to three lines, the initials nicely stand out. Furthermore the text is fully rubricated and some passages of the text are highlighted by a bolder and larger typeface. The elegant binding is made of polished calf leather on raised five bands. The covers are decorated with a beautiful gilt-stamped frame with floral ornament corners and a large black-stamped diamond penetrating the golden frame. The inner edges as well as the spine are richly ornate with gilt-stampings. All edges of the text block golden. [Condition of the binding: Good (+) / Condition of the paper: Good (+) / Further remarks: The binding is in good shape. A small tear on spine. The paper has hardly browned with minimal foxing. Last leaf verso with contemporary hand-written notes. Overall a wonderful incunable in extraordinary shape. This is a true gem of Amerbach's printing workshop.] Gerard Zerbold van Zutphen (1367 - 1398), was a Dutch theologian, author and a prominent member of the spiritual movement Devotio moderna. After reading theology at university he joined the fraternity in Deventer where he worked as a librarian, writer and confessor. He died aged 31 in the monastery of the Windesheimer Chorherren in Zwolle on December, 4th 1398, probably as a victim of the plague. Some authors regard him as a pioneer of the reformation movement whereas others declared him one of the Jesuit forefathers. He has also written De spiritualibus ascensionibus; De reformatione virium animae; De libris teutanicalibos; De vestibus pretiosis; Epistolae; Super modo vivendi devotorum. hominum simul commorantium. Johann(es) (of) Amerbach (also Amerbacensis, Amorbachius, de amerbach; born Johannes Welcker c. 1444 - 1513) was one of the most important publishers and printers of the incunabula era in Basle. His catalogue was shaped by the aims and thoughts of the humanist movement. He printed folio editions of Latin bibles, scholastic writings, dictionaries as well as scientific editions of the church fathers (e.g. Augustin, and Ambrosius). Amerbach devoted special attention to the works of contemporary humanists. Some of the authors he published were Petrarca, Ennea Silvio, Marsilius Ficinus, Baptista Mantuanus and Franciscus Philelphus. Amerbach also owned a large collection of type fonts. Amongst them were half a dozen Antiqua types which he especially used for his church father and humanist incunables. Johannes Petri (1441 - 1511) was another famous printer in Basle. He founded the Petrinische Offizin - a printing workshop which can be traced over many generations to today's Schwabe AG, the world's oldest printing and publishing office. At Petri's times it was the base for many reformatory and humanistic writings which he published together with Amerbach.