Ars moriendi.

Accession number:

PML 198786

Uniform title:

Ars moriendi (Block book)

Published:

[Netherlands (or Lower Rhine)], [approximately 1466-1467]

Description:

24 unnumbered leaves : woodcuts ; 23.5 cm (fol.)

Credit Line:

Purchased on the Gordon N. Ray, Curt F. Bühler, L. Colgate Harper D-1, and Henry S. Morgan Reference Funds, and as the gift of T. Kimball Brooker, Martha J. Fleischman, Mr. G. Scott Clemons and Ms. Karyn Joaquino, Marguerite Steed Hoffman and Tom Lentz, and Mr. and Mrs. Larry R. Ricciardi, 2022.

Notes:

Title from caption, leaf [1]/1v.
Imprint from Xylo-Bav and watermark identification.
Questionably attributed to Lower Rhine production since image plates were later used in two typographic editions printed by Nicholas Götz at Cologne about 1475, see ISTC ia01114000 and ia01114200.
Collation [1-12²]: 24 leaves. Signed on the text leaf of each bifolium: a-[m] (sometimes repeated on image plates); no signature on final bifolium, [m].
Paper format: Chancery folio.
Order of text in edition IIA (preface, Infidelity/Faith, Despair, Avarice, Impatience/Patience, Vainglory, death) different than standard order cited in Schrieber (preface, Infidelity/Faith, Despair, Impatience/Patience, Vainglory, Avarice, death).
Printing states differentiated by the recutting of leaves 17, 19, 21, and 23 (Schreiber identified as leaves 13, 15, 17, and 23 based on standard order) for state B.
Printed in brown ink, on one side of the paper only.
PML copy is 15 leaves (of 24): leaves 1-15 (leaves 16-24 are PML 3).
PML copy digitized when owned by the Grafen von Schönborn by Blockbücher aus bayerischen Sammlungen (https://www.bayerische-landesbibliothek-online.de/xylographa.html).
Watermark: on plates II-III. IHS monogram. On glued together sheets. Watermark, beta radiograph, plates II-III letters IPO. 442428wm1_PML198786_II_WM_beta
Watermark: on plates IV-V. IHS monogram, with cross. On glued together sheets. Watermark, beta radiograph, plates IV-V. 442428wm2_PML198786_IV_WM_beta.tiff
Watermark: on plate VI-VII. Unicorn. On glued together sheets. Watermark, beta radiograph, plates VI-VII, unicorn. 442428wm3_PML198786_VI_WM_beta
Watermark: on plates X-XI. Unicorn (two marks on two sheets). On glued together sheets. Watermark, beta radiograph, plates X-XI, unicorn. 442428wm4_PML198786_X_WM_beta

Binding:

17th/18th-century German mottled calf over paper boards, with gilt armorial of Lothar Franz von Schönborn, datable to 1684-1711 based on the armorial, but possibly a remboîtage binding put on the leaves at a later date. Modern plain paper pastedowns and endleaves; renewed by Jörn Günther, 2022.

Inscriptions/Markings:

Hand decoration: Woodcut plates partially hand-colored in brown, reddish-brown, green, and blue washes.

Provenance:

The Schönborn-Morgan (PML 198786) and Bennett-Morgan (PML 3) leaves were originally one copy, and form the only complete extant copy of edition IIA; the Bennett-Morgan leaves were separated at an unknown date, by 1900. Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655-1729), (remboîtage?) armorial binding, acquired at unknown date, Pommersfelden (Germany), Schonborn collection, shelfmarks: Nr. LXV 3 and GK 5; Belgium, private collection; Jörn Günther Rare Books, Brochure 19, Collecting Culture. Manuscripts and Early Printed Books (2021), no. 8; Morgan Library & Museum, purchased from Günther on the Gordon N. Ray, Curt F. Bühler, L. Colgate Harper D-1, and Henry S. Morgan Reference Funds, and as the gifts of T. Kimball Brooker, Martha Fleischman, Scott Clemons, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, and Larry Ricciardi, May 2022.

Classification:

Incunable Collection

Catalog Link:

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Century:

15th century

Department:

Printed Books