SERMONES.

EPHREM SYRUS.

([Freiburg im Breisgau: Kilianus Piscator (Fischer), not after 1491]). 293 x 203 mm. (11 1/2 x 8"). Textually Complete. [19] (of 20) leaves (lacking final blank). Double column, 52 lines in gothic type.

Modern dark brown full calf, raised bands, gilt titling. Rubricated in red, paragraph marks and three- to four-line initials hand-painted in red or blue. BMC III 693; Goff E-44; ISTC ie00044000. Spine sunned to a lighter brown, a touch of rubbing to extremities, but the binding sound and not without appeal; a couple of minor stains, other trivial imperfections, but A FINE, FRESH COPY internally, clean and rather bright, with ample margins.

One of the first books to be printed in Freiburg, this is a selection of six sermons from fourth century theologian, saint, and Doctor of the Church Ephrem the Syrian, three of these printed here for the first time. Penning commentaries, homilies, and hymns, Ephrem (ca. 306-73) exerted a wide influence on the doctrine and the liturgies of the Greek and Latin churches, with many manuscripts of his writings surviving into Medieval times. The sermons here examine remorse, penitence, spiritual struggles, God's judgment, the kingdom of heaven, and the supreme happiness of the soul. This is the first printing of the second, third, and fifth sermons. Printer Kilian Fischer is considered by BMC to be the earliest printer in Freiburg, with his first (undated) work appearing around 1490. His earliest book to bear a date was printed in 1492; the dating of the present item is based on the rubrication date written in a copy at the University of Tübingen. ISTC attributes 19 works to Fischer's Freiburg press, with the present work the second to be issued. BMC notes that Fischer removed to Basel before 1497, at which time he purchased citizenship in that city and printed a Sion breviary there. (ST15095)

Price: $6,000.00