Charlier de Gerson, Jean (1363-1429); Wimpheling, Jakob (1450-1528)

Quarta pars operum Johannis Gerson prius non impressa.

      Strasbourg, Martin Flach, 1502. 4to; 11.8 in x 8.3 in. [312] leaves; aa-bb6, a-c6, d8, e6, f8, g-h6, i8, k6, l8, m6, n-o8, p6, q-s8, t6, v-y8, z6, A8, B6, C-G8, H6, I8, K6, L-M8, N-O6, P8, Q-R6, S-T8. Blind-stamped full leather binding. Good condition. The volume at hand contains the fourth part of Jean le Charlier de Gerson's collected works. It was published in 1502 as a supplement to the 1494 edition of the same printer, which comprised three volumes. As an early post-incunable the book contains many characteristics of early medieval prints: Beautifully hand-painted initials in luminous red ink mark the beginning of each chapter, the first initial being especially striking. Apart from being of impressive size, the letter was also very artistically painted in blue and red. The title page has also been richly decorated and rubricated. Furthermore the volume also contains an extraordinary woodcut attributed to Albrecht Dürer. It shows Gerson as a pilgrim with his coat of arms. The image was made with great attention to detail and also depicts a dog as well as an angel-like figure in the background. Full leather binding on three raised bands. Covers and spine are decorated with complex blind-stamped floral ornaments. The title is written in old hand on the long edge of the text block. [Condition of the binding: Good (+) / Condition of the paper: Good / Further remarks: The binding is lightly bumped and has been professionally repaired. Paper with minimal foxing and first leaves with worms holes in the margins. Some written notes in old hand. The title page shows a handwritten exlibris "Hunc Liber emit Alexander mayr mgr Hospitalis Ano 53". On the whole this post-incunable is in very good condition, especially when considering its age of over 500 years.] Jean le Charlier de Gerson (1363-1429) was chancellor of the Sorbonne and a very influential theologian of his time. His writings and personal actions were vital in solving the Great Western Schism. Gerson held the opinion that councils were superior to the pope and should therefore have the power to impeach the pope. His energetic attitude was one of the driving forces behind the Council of Constance. Apart from his works on canon law Gerson also wrote many mystical treatises. He was convinced that the believer could become one with god in prayer. The volume at hand contains numerous sermons and writings by Gerson on the existence of angels, the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary and the life of various saints. The sermons were published by the famous humanist and historian Jakob Wimpheling (1450-1528) who used to be quite critical of the church himself. On the whole this is a very well preserved and wonderfully decorated edition of Gerson's works. The remarkable woodcut by Albrecht Dürer together with the beautiful hand-painted initials make this post-incunabula volume quite an impressive rarity in every bibliophile's collection.