Baptista Mantuanus (Spagnuolo), Giovanni, Saint

De patientia

      Johann Bergmann de Olpe, Basel:: Johann Bergmann de Olpe,, 1499, 17 August.. Fine contemporary elaborately blind-stamped calf over wood boards, spine double-banded with original metal clasps, some damage to rear cover has been repaired; Binding by the Trier Matthiaskloster: the decoration on the covers uses a number of separate stamps:roundels :rampant lion, eagle, crossed halberds,saints; lozanges; florals; typographic elements; decorative designs; etc. in triple blind lines [Binding stamps include Schunke/Schwenke #s: Schrift 334, 376; Heilige 46 (St Catherine); Rosette 574; Blattwek 573, 575, 576; Blumenkopf 10; Christus 31; Grantapel 41; Lamm 72; Wappen 66.all identified as the Trier bindery in Michael Laird and Paul NeedhamOs OUnofficial IndexO] ; front paste-down ms vellum leaf of the late 14th century from a hymnal with a selection from the Bible [Romans chapter 6] and hymns [one with neumes] in dark brown ink and red initials and marks,another that had been used in the rear has been removed but its image is visible on rear board; title-page slightly detached at bottom, minor edge dampstain on first leaves, a very fine copy.#11;. 4to.. Types 220, title and headings; 109a, title and tet. Greek 109 in text. OCarmelite and Renaissance poet, born at Mantua, 17 April, 1447, where he also died, 22 March, 1516. The eldest son of Peter Spagnoli, a Spanish nobleman at the court of Mantua, Baptista studied grammar under Gregorio Tifernate, and philosophy at Pavia under Polo Bagelardi... He went to Venice and later on to Ferrara where he carried out his resolution of entering the Carmelite convent which belonged to the then flourishing Reform of Mantua...#11;Baptista pursued his studies at Ferrara and Bologna where he was ordained priest, received his degrees, and delivered lectures in philosophy and divinity. The Duke of Mantua entrusted him with the education of his children, and the connection with the ducal family resulted in a number of poetical works...Six times (each for two years with four years interval) Baptista was nominated vicar general of his congregation, and, in 1513, general of the whole order through the exertions of his former disciples, the duke and the cardinal. The chapter, however, resenting the intervention, restricted his powers. He held the office until his death... Baptista Mantuanus was beatified in 1890, his feast being assigned to 23 March.[CE]#11;This is the fourth printed edition of this famous treatise which is notable for its early reference to diseases in the Americas.He also describes the many epidemics which were being introduced into Europe by returning explorers. He also discusses health and the virtues of a proper diet in maintaining it. #11;#11;(Wilfred Pirt Mustard in his work on Mantuanus [The Ecolgues of Baptista Mantuanus...Johns Hopkins, 1911] noted that NiceronOs Memoirs gives the date of composition as 1498 (it was first printed in Brecia in 1497) because of a reading Oagitur enim nunc Christo annus millesimus quadringentismus nonagesimus octavus.O OBut this reading must have been Obrought up to dateO by some one who printed the treatise in 1498; for both the Brescia edition of 1497 and the Venice edition of 1499 have Ononagesimus septimus.O And what the Mantuan actually wrote in this passage must have been something different still; for each of these early editions includes a letter from Helias Capreolus to Iaonnes Taberius... which states that the treatise has been brought to Brecia by Pietro de Novellara, and asks that it be printed. The fact is, that the composition of De Patentia extended over a considerable period of years.O pp29-30.)#11;#11;Johann Bergmann de Olpe Oappears as a priest and chaplain of the cathedral foundation at Basel... His earlist signed and dated books belong to the year 1494, and he printed regularly till 1499, his latest dated book being the ODe patentiaO of the 17 August of that year.O [BMC]#11;#11;Unusually, the date is given on the title-page in arabic numerals. In the 16th century, this was to become the standard form but in the incunabular period it is not only unusual to find a dated title-page, the colophon was used extensively for publisher's information, but even more so in Arabic numerals. Goff B79. Hain/ Copinger 2407. Pell 1813. CIBN B-55. Arnoult 201. Parguez 131. Zehnacker 351. Polain(B) 487. IGI 1191. IBP 775. Saj!-Solt!sz 480. Madsen 522. G!nt(L) 289. Voull(B) 618. Voull(Trier) 282. Hubay(Augsburg) 270. Hubay(Eichst!tt) 126. Ohly-Sack 373. Sack(Freiburg) 439. Borm 328 . Pad-Ink 84. Wilhelmi 99, 100. Walsh 1264. Oates 2855. Sheppard 2564. Bodleian B-042. Proctor 7783. BMC III 797. BSB-Ink B-42. GW 3307. ISTC ib00079000. Alden, European Americana, 499/1.