Nicholas ] Nicholaus De Lyra

Postilla in Quattuor Evangelistas [Commentaries on The Evangelists. New Testament]

      Octaviani Scoti Modoetiesis, Venice 1488 - Quarto (8"x11"). unpaged (328 leaves. Please inquire if full collation needed.) Binding is 20th century full brown calf with simple gilt title and rules on spine. Corners are bumped, light scuffing to spine corners and raised bands. New endpapers and flyleaves at front and rear. Pages trimmed, not affecting text, all edges stained blue. Scattered foxing, mainly to margins, occasional marginalia (some compromised by marginal trimming at re-binding). Pencil note on rear pastedown: "Collated pp. B Quaritch Ltd [initials] / Lacks initial & final blanks / otherwise complete." Printed in 2 columns, 59 lines, Gothic type, running heads on rectos. Initial 2" capital in colors and gold (fleck of gold missing) with interior portrait of Nicholas holding a codex against a deep blue background that actually sparkles with minute stars! (see image). Another smaller illumination in colors and gold at start of Matthew; other manuscript capitals in red or blue throughout. Tight and sound in binding, generally clean and bright. A handsome copy of a scarce and important incunable, Nicholas' early commentaries on the New Testament. Colophon: "Explicit postilla fris Nicolai de lira ordis minoruz in apocalypsim Impressa Venetus, opera & impensa Octaviani Scoti Modoetie-fis. Anno salutifere incarnatiois. M.CCCC.LXXXVIII. Quinto Jdus Augusti." [Attributes: Hard Cover]