Folio, 193 (of 195) ff (missing 2 final blanks; 1st and last p. sl. soiled). 19th-c gilt calf, covers with gilt double ruled border, gilt spine with 5 raised bands, gilt inside dentelles, a.e.g., marbled endpapers (covers sl. scratched, front cover tanned at top). Excellent wide-margined copy
FIRST EDITION of the early church history from the Council of Nicaea (325) to 439, i.e. the period subsequent to that covered by Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History. It was compiled by the 6th.-c. Christian Roman scholar and statesman Cassiodorus, official in the Ostrogothic kingdom of Theodoric. Johann Schüssler was the 2nd printer of Augsburg. He produced only ten books (1470-1473). Printed in gothic type, 35 ll. RUBRICATED THROUGHOUT with a number of initials extending into the margin. 2 LARGE 7-LINE INITIALS IN RED AND GREEN PENWORK. Ref.: ISTC ic00237000; GW 6164; Goff C-237 and Polain 4274. Prov.: A number of contemp. marginal annotations in red. Contemp. ownership entry of Regensburg Augustinians (f.1). Virtue and Cahil Library, Portsmouth (large bookplate, release stamp dated 1967)
