Canticum canticorum.

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Accession number:

PML 21990

Uniform title:

Bible. Song of Solomon. Latin. 1465.

Published:

[The Netherlands], [approximately 1465]

Description:

[16] leaves : illustrated (woodcuts) ; 28.5 x 21.5 cm (fol)

Credit Line:

Purchased by J.P. Morgan, Jr., 1923.

Notes:

Collation: [1-8²]: 16 leaves.
Imprint from paper evidence.
Paper format: Chancery folio
PML copy leaf dimensions: 27.6 x 20.2 cm
PML copy with a horizontal crack through the top-half of the woodcuts on leaves [1]/1-2 and [8]/1-2, suggesting that the cuts were on both sides of the block.
PML copy with blank sides formerly pasted together.
PML copy with watermarks of an anchor (similar to Briquet 384) in quires [1-3, 5-8] and a tower (similar to Briquet 15894-6) in quire [4].
Printed on one side of bifolium only from a single woodblock (4 scenes per block).
Schreiber IV, p. 151 cites the other 6 known copies and 1 fragment, but does not record this copy.

Binding:

Modern full red morocco over paper boards (28.5 x 21.5 cm), sewn on 5 supports by Charlotte Ullman, 1968. Plain paper pastedowns and fly leaves; decorative endbands; gilt edges.

Inscriptions/Markings:

Hand decoration: Woodcuts uncolored. Some speech scrolls highlighted in red. Annotations: Contemporary manuscript correction on leaf [4]/1v (fol. 7v), lower cut: "exspolia[vi] me tunica" (Song 5:3). Modern manuscript title page.
Watermark: fol. 3. Long anchor with cross.
Watermark: fol. 6. Long anchor with cross.
Watermark: fol. 7. Tower with crenelated top.
Watermark: fol. 16. Long anchor with cross.

Provenance:

Bernard Quaritch, unidentified catalogue, no. 375; J.P. Morgan, Jr. (1867-1943), purchased from Quaritch, March 1923.

Classification:

Incunable Collection

Catalog Link:

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Genres:

Block books (Printing)

Century:

15th century

Department:

Printed Books