Bod-Inc: A-441
Ars Moriendi
Ars moriendi ‘Quamvis secundum philosophum tertio Ethicorum . . .’ [French] L'art de bien vivre et de bien mourir, et al.
Analysis of Content
a2r L'art de bien vivre. Incipit: ‘[N]ostre dieu imperateur et createur du ciel et de la terre au commancement du temps . . .’
k2r ‘Une tres deuote meditation de l'ame.’ Incipit: ‘[Q]ui sera mon loyal amy, mon teable secours a mon derrain . . .’
k4v [Prologue to l'art de bien mourir.] Incipit: ‘[C]ombien que tousiours penser a la mort ne soit pas utile . . . Quamuis secundum philosophorum tercio Ethiquorum . . .’
k5r L'art de bien mourir. [Translated by Guillaume Tardif.] Incipit: ‘[Q]uamuis secundum philosophun etc.(!) Selon que dit le philozophe ou tiers liure de ethiques . . .’ On the two versions of the ‘Ars moriendi' see O'Connor, Art of Dying, 7-10. On the iconography see Alberto Tenenti, La vie et la mort à travers l'art du xve siècle, Cahiers des annales publiés avec le concours du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 8 (Paris, 1952).
n1r Aiguillon de crainte divine pour bien mourir. Incipit: ‘[P]our ce que nul homme viuant en ceste vie presente . . .’
t1r L'advenement de Antechrist. Incipit: ‘[D]euant que traictions des ioyes de paradis . . .’
cc7v [Colophon with list of contents.]
Imprint
Imprint: Paris: [Antoine Vérard] for André Bocard, 12 Feb. ‘1453' [i.e. 1493/94]. Folio.
Collation
Collation: a–d8 e6 f–h8 i10 k–r8 ſ6 t–x8 y10 aa–cc8.
Illustrations: 65 Woodcuts.
References
ISTC: ia01123000
GW: GW 2587;
Hain: C 681 = 680;
Goff: Goff A‑1123;
BMC: BMC VIII 154;
Proctor: Pr 8155;
Others: O'Connor, Art of Dying, 150; Sheppard 6388.
LCN: 13980543
Copies
Copy number: A-441(1)
Wanting s6 and the blank leaf cc8.
Binding: English gold-tooled red morocco, probably dating from 1766-72, with a panel of green into which centre and corner inlays have been let. By Richard Dymott of London (†1788/9); see Giles Barber, ‘Richard Dymott, Bookbinder', Library, 5th ser., 19 (1964), 250-4, and pl. XXII. An outer border of a greek-key roll between rectangular gold dots and fillets (Barber pl. XXII nos 3 and 7), with an unusual star stamp (Barber pl. XXII no. 5) at each corner; an inner border of a ‘pleated' roll (Barber pl. XXII no. 6), the rectangular gold dots and fillets (Barber pl. XXII no. 3), and a rosette stamp at each corner (Barber pl. XXII unnumbered). The panel so formed has a border of rectangular gold dots and the ‘pleated' roll on green onlay, also four rosette stamps; in each angle, a fan in dentelle (Barber pl. XXII unnumbered) and a bird on a branch (Barber pl. XXII no. 4), on red; in the centre a wheel in dentelle on red (Barber pl. XXII unnumbered), with centre-piece on green. On the spine a foliate tool (Barber pl. XXII no. 8). Marbled pastedowns and gilt-edged leaves. Perhaps bound for Thomas Allen.
Size: 279 × 204 × 35 mm.
Size of leaf: 270 × 185 mm.
Notes, perhaps in the hands of Thomas Baker and César de Missy. Sixteen pages of manuscript notes, probably in the hand of Thomas Allen, with additions by Francis Douce, discussing the illustrations.
Two- and three-line initials and paragraph marks are supplied in red or blue; occasional initials are supplied in interlocked red and blue. A unicorn in black ink on k1r.
Provenance: Unread early inscription on a1r. ‘GP 7 Febr. 1625' on a1r now legible under ultraviolet light only. Thomas Baker (1656-1740); name on a1r: see Korsten, pp. xi–xli, 9-10 no. 62: this copy not identified; sale (9 Nov. 1741). César de Missy (1703-1775); ex libris inscription on a2r; sale (25 Mar. 1776), lot 1469. Thomas Allen; sale (9 May 1795), lot 923. Purchased for £3. 9. 0 by Edward Knight (1734-1812); inscription in Douce's hand on endleaf: ‘Mr. Knight bought this book at Allen's sale in May 1795 for £3. 9. 0 and afterwards very liberally ceded it to me in exchange for other books'; see also Clarke Repertorium Bibliographicum, 393. Francis Douce (1757-1834); armorial book-plate. Bequeathed in 1834.
SHELFMARK: Douce 169.
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