Antoninus Sanctus

SUMMAE.Sanctus. Prima (et Secunda). Venetiis, Leonardus Wild de Ratisbona, (Pars I); Venetiis, Johannes de Colonia et Johannes Manthen, (Pars II),

      1481, 1477 1481 - Fine initials in red and blue throughout, some, very large and beautifully rendered. Two large initials in red at the beginning of Part One and one very large coloured initial at the opening of the second part, rubricated in red and blue. Two parts in one Folio, important leather binding of the period for monastic use with rampant lions and other tools. First Part: ff. (240, the first blank is present). F. 2r; f. 239 v, cccc. lxxxi "; f. 240r. - Seconda parte: ff. (366, the first blank present). F. 2r; f. 364r, M. cccc. lxxvij; f. 366r. "Registrum 2e partis.Ó A beautiful example, with very strong impressions done with great care. With fine provenance. A very rare edition containing these two parts of the "Summa theologica". Pars II, in particular is of especial import and is a unique pressing by Joh. de Colonia e Joh. Manthen. A second edition with the other parts of the opera was not printed until it was accomplished by Anton Koberger in Nuremburg. The "Summa" is the principle work of Saint Antoninus (Florence 1389-1459), a Domenican brother who was named a diplomat of the Pope, embarked on a number of important missions for him and journeyed for the Pope to Florence from 1445. The book had great influence for hundreds of years and twenty editions alone were completed in Nuremberg and Venice to 1740 but most copies are incomplete. "Importante sotto l'aspetto teologico-morale ed etico-economico, persegue un fine più pratico che teorico " (M. Grabmann, Storia teol. catt., Milano, 1939, p. 138).