BONAVENTURE (SAINT) | 'Die Legend des heyligen Vatters Francisci.' Nuremberg: Hieronymus Holtzel for the heirs of Caspar Rosentaler, 7 April 1512

BONAVENTURE (SAINT)

'Die Legend des heyligen Vatters Francisci.' Nuremberg: Hieronymus Holtzel for the heirs of Caspar Rosentaler, 7 April 1512

4to (7 1/2 x 5 3/4 in.; 190 x145mm). Title page with large woodcut vignette of St. Francis receiving the stigmata, 57 woodcuts in total (including duplicates) by Wolf Traut, 5 of which full-page, all with fine contemporary hand-coloring; F3 and V1 with marginal repairs, L1, O1, and T4 torn and restored with loss of text, some minor spotting or staining, one or two instances of marginal worming. Full 16th century pigskin over boards, panelled and decorated in blind, spine with raised bands in four compartments, remains of clasps, edges stained blue; rubbed with some loss, some soiling, deaccession label to front pastedown. 

The rare first German edition of Bonaventura's life of St. Francis

This volume is also the first to incorporate Wolf Traut's striking woodcuts. The Nuremberg artist—a student of Albrecht Dürer—completed 51 woodcuts for this work, which would prove to be his greatest contribution to illustrated books. Traut was in Dürer's workshop from 1505, or possible earlier, when he produced woodcuts for Pinder's 'Der beschlossen Gart des Rosenkrantz Marie.' 

The present edition of 'Die Legend des heyligen Vatters Francisci' was popular and widely read, meaning that few copies have survived.  

REFERENCES

VD16 B6559; Dodgson I: 502-3

PROVENANCE

Paul ?Kramer (his signature and motto, "Omnia cum deo," to front free endpaper) — Virtue and Cahill Library (oversized bookplate to front pastedown)