Albertanus.

Tractatus de arte loquendi et tacendi. [Colophon]: Explicit liber de doctrina loquendi [et] tacendi ab Albertano causidico brixiesi. Ad instructionem filiorum suorum compositus. Impressus ac finit[us] Meming[en] p[er] Albertis Kun[n]e de Duderstat.

      Memmingen: Albrecht Kunne. , 1489 - 42 lines, printed in two columns, 12-line manuscript inscription in two early hands on the title-leaf, some capitals letters in red ink, a few words underlined in red or black ink, single wormhole through text, early manuscript annotations, upper blank margins touched by damp, 8 leaves, small 4to, modern vellum over stiff boards, spine with gilt title lettering vertically, good Albertanus of Brescia (c.1195 to 1251) wrote the treatise De doctrina dicendia et tacendi ("On teaching about speech and silence") in 1245. In them he discusses the place of notaries in public life, and more generally explores the newly emerging role of the professional in public life. The first edition was published in Basle in 1474, and it proved to be a popular text. Possibly because in his writing Albertanus wished to present a rule of life that would lay the foundation for a good society. He believed in the importance of moral restraint based on voluntary participation in a community. Albertanus was very influential, his works were known and used by, amongst others John Gower, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Antonio de Torquemada. There were many translations of his works into French, German, Tuscan, Venetian, Spanish and Dutch, with wide circulation well into the 15th and early 16th centuries, a testament to his broader influence on society. The manuscript poem begins in Latin, whilst the last six lines are in German. (Goff A200; BMC II, 605; Proctor 2785) [Attributes: First Edition; Signed Copy; Hard Cover]