To this list of impressions of the SACRED TEXT, may be added a fine copy of the SCLAVONIAN BIBLE of 1584, folio, with wood cuts, and another of the HUNGARIAN Bible of 1626, folio: the latter in double columns, with a crowdedly-printed margin, and an engraved frontispiece.
As to books upon miscellaneous subjects, I shall lay before you, without any particular order, my notes of the following: Of the Speculum Morale of P. Bellovacensis, here said to be printed by Mentelin in 1476, in double columns, roman type, folio--there is a copy, in one volume, of tremendously large dimensions; as fine, clean, and crackling as possible. Also a copy of the Speculum Judiciale of Durandus, printed at Strasbourg by Hussner and Rekenhub, in 1473, folio. Hussner was a citizen of Strasbourg, and his associate a priest at Mentz. Here is also a perfect copy of the Latin PTOLEMY, of the supposed date of 1462, with a fine set of the copper-plates.
But I must make distinct mention of a Latin Chronicle, printed by Gotz de Sletztat in 1474, in folio. It is executed in a coarse, large gothic type, with many capital roman letters. At the end of the alphabetical index of 35 leaves, we read as follows:
DEO GRATIAS.
A tpe ade vsqz ad annos cristi 1474
Acta et gesta hic suffitienter nuclient
Sola spes mea. In virginis gracia
Nicholaus Gotz. De Sletzstat.
The preceding is on the recto; on the reverse of the same leaf is an account of Inventors of arts: no mention is made of that of printing. Then the prologue to the Chronicle, below which is the device of Gotz;[220] having his name subjoined. The text of the Chronicle concludes at page CCLXXX--printed numerals--with an account of an event which took place in the year 1470. But the present copy contains another, and the concluding leaf--which may be missing in some copies--wherein there is a particular notice of a splendid event which took place in 1473, between Charles Duke of Burgundy, and Frederick the Roman Emperor, with Maximilian his Son; together with divers dukes, earls, and counts attending. The text of this leaf ends thus;
SAVE GAIRT VIVE BVRGVND.
Below, within a circle, "Sixtus quartus." This work is called, in a ms. prefix, the Chronicle of Foresius. I never saw, or heard of, another copy. The present is fine and sound; and bound in wood, covered with leather.
Here are two copies of St. Jerom's Epistles, printed by Schoeffher in 1470; of which that below stairs is one of the most magnificent imaginable; in two folio volumes. Hardly any book can exceed, and few equal it, in size and condition--unless it be the theological works of ARCHBISHOP ANTONIUS, printed by Koeberger, in 1477, in one enormous folio volume. As a specimen of Koeberger's press, I am unable at the present moment to mention any thing which approaches it. I must also notice a copy of the Speculum Humanæ Salvationis, printed at Basle, by Richel, in 1476, folio. It is a prodigious volume, full of wood cuts, and printed in double columns in a handsome gothic type. This work seems to be rather a History of the Bible; having ten times the matter of that which belongs to the work with this title usually prefixed. The copy is in its original wooden binding.
JUNIANUS MAIUS. De Propriet. Priscor. Verborum, printed at Treviso by Bernard de Colonia, 1477, folio. I do not remember to have before seen any specimen of this printer's type: but what he has done here, is sufficient to secure for him typographical immortality. This is indeed a glorious copy--perfectly large paper--of an elegantly printed book, in a neat gothic type, in double columns. The first letter of the text is charmingly illuminated. I shall conclude these miscellaneous articles by the notice of two volumes, in the list of ROMANCES, of exceedingly rare occurrence. These romances are called Tyturell and Partzifal. The author of them was Wolfram von Escenbach. They are each of the date of 1477, in folio. The Tyturell is printed prose-wise, and the Partzifal in a metrical form.
We now come to the Roman CLASSICS, (for of the Greek there are few or none)--before the year 1500. Let me begin with Virgil. Here is Mentelin's very rare edition; but cropt, scribbled upon, and wanting several leaves. However, there is a most noble and perfect copy of Servius's Commentary upon the same poet, printed by Valdarfer in 1471, folio, and bound in primitive boards. There are two perfect copies of Mentelin's edition (which is the first) of VALERIUS MAXIMUS, of which one is wormed and cropt. The other Mentelin copy of the Valerius Maximus, without the Commentary, is perhaps the largest I ever saw--with the ancient ms. signatures at the bottom-corners of the leaves. Unluckily, the margins are rather plentifully charged with ms. memoranda.