PSALMISTA SECUNDUM CONSUETUNDINE[M] SANCTE ROMANE ECCLESIE.

(BINDINGS - 16TH CENTURY). (CATHOLIC LITURGY - PSALTER).

(Venetiis [Venice]: in officina heredum Luceantonii Junte [hiers of Lucantonio Giunta], 1538). 149 x 104 mm. (5 7/8 x 4"). [8], 143 (of 144) leaves, lacking leaf p6.

Contemporary Venetian morocco, rebacked (preserving original blind-ruled spine) and corners rounded off and renewed, covers each with blind-ruled borders, and a gilt- and blind-ruled panel with gilt fleurons in each inner and outer corner, central gilt IHS monogram, raised bands, brass clasps renewed, all edges gilt and gauffered, lacking final endleaf. Printer's device on title, numerous historiated woodcut initials, first page of text with woodcut border, two full-page woodcut illustrations. Printed in red and black. Essling 181; Sander 5970 (under "autres éditions"); EDIT 16 CNCE 11880. Original spine somewhat crackled, bottom compartment with slight surface loss (perhaps from removal of a label), covers with several (but insignificant) small dings, very minor dampstain at extreme top edge of a few leaves, other trivial imperfections, but a clean, fresh, and bright copy, in an attractive early binding.

Offered in what is probably its original binding, this is a very rare edition of a Psalter done by one of the leading Venetian printing families of the 15th and 16th centuries. A major figure in the Italian book trade, Lucantonio Giunta (1457-1538) began his career as a bookseller in Venice in 1477, and became a printer there in 1489. Together with family members and carefully arranged partnerships, Giunta expanded his printing empire into numerous cities in Europe, including Lyon, Lisbon, Antwerp, Frankfurt, and Salamanca. The present book was printed just after the death of Lucantonio, whose heirs would continue to run the family business, which grew prosperous in part because of its specialty in producing liturgical works such as this. The contents here are routine, but the well-preserved decorative period binding makes the volume definitely worth having. (ST19567-018)

Price: $2,800.00