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A vellum leaf from a Dutch Book of Hours. The recto and verso have decorated borders; the recto contains a six-line historiated initial “S” depicting the head of Christ, the symbol of the “agnus dei” (lamb of God) in the margin, and two two-line decorated initials all in red and blue inks.

A vellum leaf from a Dutch Book of Hours. The recto and verso have decorated borders; the recto contains a six-line historiated initial “S” depicting the head of Christ, the symbol of the “agnus dei” (lamb of God) in the margin, and two two-line decorated initials all in red and blue inks.

A vellum leaf from a Dutch Book of Hours which includes a fully illuminated and historiated border of red and blue inks and an eight-line historiated initial “0”.

A vellum leaf from a Dutch Book of Hours which includes a fully illuminated and historiated border of red and blue inks and an eight-line historiated initial “0”.

Leaf CI of the German Nuremberg Chronicle, with a large woodcut, colorized by hand, depicting Christ enthroned, surrounded by the Apostles.

Leaf CI of the German Nuremberg Chronicle, with a large woodcut, colorized by hand, depicting Christ enthroned, surrounded by the Apostles.

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Summary: A history of Venice.

Summary: A history of Venice.

Four medallions decorating the title page of Thalmut. : Obiectiones in dicta Thalmut seductoris Iudeorum. Each medallion features a portrait of a bearded man wearing different vestments associated with the Jewish tradition.

Four medallions decorating the title page of Thalmut. : Obiectiones in dicta Thalmut seductoris Iudeorum. Each medallion features a portrait of a bearded man wearing different vestments associated with the Jewish tradition.

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An engraving with William of Orange (William III of England & William II of Scotland) and his wife, Mary II of England and Scotland in the center, surrounded by portraits of their various royal predecessors, including Edward VI of England (top left), Henry VIII of England (top center), Elizabeth I of England (top right), James I of England (bottom left), Charles II of England (bottom center), and Charles I of England (bottom right).

An engraving with William of Orange (William III of England & William II of Scotland) and his wife, Mary II of England and Scotland in the center, surrounded by portraits of their various royal predecessors, including Edward VI of England (top left), Henry VIII of England (top center), Elizabeth I of England (top right), James I of England (bottom left), Charles II of England (bottom center), and Charles I of England (bottom right).

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Summary: One of four volumes of a 1497 printing of Jerome's commentaries on the Old Testament. This particular volume comprises the prophetic books Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel as well as the 12 minor prophets. It is unique insofar as not all parts of the larger set were bound in the same order or based on the same divisions. It was that was once held by the library of Rebdorf monastery, which developed a renown humanist collection during the tenure of Kilian Leib as the monastery's prior.

Summary: One of four volumes of a 1497 printing of Jerome's commentaries on the Old Testament. This particular volume comprises the prophetic books Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel as well as the 12 minor prophets. It is unique insofar as not all parts of the larger set were bound in the same order or based on the same divisions. It was that was once held by the library of Rebdorf monastery, which developed a renown humanist collection during the tenure of Kilian Leib as the monastery's prior.

Summary: There were 18 printings of the whole Bible in German before Luther's September Testament of 1522. These were all translated from the Latin vulgate. They are today chiefly remembered as giving the lie to the often expressed assertion that the Catholic Church discouraged the circulation of the Bible in the vernacular. Many church authorities were not pleased to admit that it was necessary to circulate it in German. But they realized that a certain lack of education coupled with the people's desire to know their religious heritage made it necessary to print in German.

Summary: There were 18 printings of the whole Bible in German before Luther's September Testament of 1522. These were all translated from the Latin vulgate. They are today chiefly remembered as giving the lie to the often expressed assertion that the Catholic Church discouraged the circulation of the Bible in the vernacular. Many church authorities were not pleased to admit that it was necessary to circulate it in German. But they realized that a certain lack of education coupled with the people's desire to know their religious heritage made it necessary to print in German.

An illuminated page from the 1472 printed edition of Honorius of Atun's Cristianus ad solitariu[m] quendam De ymagine mundi. The illumination includes two initial letters "S" accented with floral patterns. The illumination uses blue, green, and red color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1472 printed edition of Honorius of Atun's Cristianus ad solitariu[m] quendam De ymagine mundi. The illumination includes two initial letters "S" accented with floral patterns. The illumination uses blue, green, and red color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1470 printing of De evangelica praeparatione by Eusebius of Caesarea. The illuminations include an initial letter "E", floral boarder decorations, and a coat of arms featuring a hart surrounded by a laurel wreath. The illuminations are done in green, purple, black, blue, and red coloring with additional gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1470 printing of De evangelica praeparatione by Eusebius of Caesarea. The illuminations include an initial letter "E", floral boarder decorations, and a coat of arms featuring a hart surrounded by a laurel wreath. The illuminations are done in green, purple, black, blue, and red coloring with additional gold accents.

An illuminated page from Franciscus de Platea's Opus restitutionum usurarum et excommunicationum. The illumination includes an initial letter "R" woven into a floral patterned border. The illumination uses red, green, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from Franciscus de Platea's Opus restitutionum usurarum et excommunicationum. The illumination includes an initial letter "R" woven into a floral patterned border. The illumination uses red, green, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1487 printing of Sabellico's Decades rerum Venetarum. The illumination includes an initial letter "V" and decorative acorn and oak leaf border. The illumination is done in yellow, brown, green, red, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1487 printing of Sabellico's Decades rerum Venetarum. The illumination includes an initial letter "V" and decorative acorn and oak leaf border. The illumination is done in yellow, brown, green, red, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1480 printed edition of the Letters of Saint Jerome. The illumination includes an initial letter "P" surrounded by floral decorations and surrounding an image of Saint Jerome holding a book. At the bottom of the page is an illumination showing a crest, which features a wolf, surrounded by a laurel wreath bound on the top, bottom, left, and right with decorative string. The illumination uses blue, red, green, brown, and black color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1480 printed edition of the Letters of Saint Jerome. The illumination includes an initial letter "P" surrounded by floral decorations and surrounding an image of Saint Jerome holding a book. At the bottom of the page is an illumination showing a crest, which features a wolf, surrounded by a laurel wreath bound on the top, bottom, left, and right with decorative string. The illumination uses blue, red, green, brown, and black color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1487 printing of Sabellico's Decades rerum Venetarum. The illumination includes an initial letter "Q" and decorative border composed of several generic floral patterns, a flowering pear tree branch with a bird perched on it, two different types of flowers, and a coat of arms featuring an eagle, angel, and possibly a swallow. The illumination is done in pink, yellow, black, brown, green, red, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1487 printing of Sabellico's Decades rerum Venetarum. The illumination includes an initial letter "Q" and decorative border composed of several generic floral patterns, a flowering pear tree branch with a bird perched on it, two different types of flowers, and a coat of arms featuring an eagle, angel, and possibly a swallow. The illumination is done in pink, yellow, black, brown, green, red, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from a 1497 printed edition of the Pontificale Romanum. The illumination includes an initial letter "P" with a full floral border featuring a coat of arms ringed in a laurel wreath in the bottom margin. The illumination is done in red, blue, green, yellow, and black color.

An illuminated page from a 1497 printed edition of the Pontificale Romanum. The illumination includes an initial letter "P" with a full floral border featuring a coat of arms ringed in a laurel wreath in the bottom margin. The illumination is done in red, blue, green, yellow, and black color.

An illuminated page from the first sermon in the 1472 printing of Roberto Caracciolo's Sermones quadragesimales de poenitentia. The illumination includes an initial letter "M" with accompanying floral imagery. At the bottom of the page is a coat of arms bearing a griffin surrounded by a laurel wreath. The illumination is done in red, green, blue, and black color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the first sermon in the 1472 printing of Roberto Caracciolo's Sermones quadragesimales de poenitentia. The illumination includes an initial letter "M" with accompanying floral imagery. At the bottom of the page is a coat of arms bearing a griffin surrounded by a laurel wreath. The illumination is done in red, green, blue, and black color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the gospel of Matthew from volume five of the Biblia cum glossa ordinaria printed in 1498. The central initial letter "L" is done in red, blue, green, yellow, and white/grey with gold accents. There are also two examples of blue and red rubricated initial letter "L"s at the top of the page.

An illuminated page from the gospel of Matthew from volume five of the Biblia cum glossa ordinaria printed in 1498. The central initial letter "L" is done in red, blue, green, yellow, and white/grey with gold accents. There are also two examples of blue and red rubricated initial letter "L"s at the top of the page.

An illuminated page from the 1487 printing of Sabellico's Decades rerum Venetarum. The illumination includes an initial letter "S" and decorative floral border. The illumination is done in pink, brown, green, red, and blue color with gold accents.

An illuminated page from the 1487 printing of Sabellico's Decades rerum Venetarum. The illumination includes an initial letter "S" and decorative floral border. The illumination is done in pink, brown, green, red, and blue color with gold accents.

Summary: The Four Books of Sentences by Peter Lombard are a compilation of biblical text, writings of the Church Fathers and of medieval thinkers on various theological topics. It became the standard theological textbook of the Late Middle Ages.

Summary: The Four Books of Sentences by Peter Lombard are a compilation of biblical text, writings of the Church Fathers and of medieval thinkers on various theological topics. It became the standard theological textbook of the Late Middle Ages.

A vellum leaf from a Latin Book of Hours. The leaf contains 1/4 panel borders of flowers and tree trunks in liquid gold and tempera.

A vellum leaf from a Latin Book of Hours. The leaf contains 1/4 panel borders of flowers and tree trunks in liquid gold and tempera.

A vellum leaf featuring a liturgical calendar with decorative text, initial letters, and three-sided border all in red and blue inks.

A vellum leaf featuring a liturgical calendar with decorative text, initial letters, and three-sided border all in red and blue inks.

A leaf featuring liturgical prayers surrounded by a historiated boarder, including the image of a woman and an angel.

A leaf featuring liturgical prayers surrounded by a historiated boarder, including the image of a woman and an angel.

Used at Utrecht between 1470 and 1500, the North Dutch Book of Hours includes the "Hours of the Eternal Wisdom," by Gerard Groot (a member of the Brothers of the Common Life), Hours of the Virgin, and Penitential Psalms.

Used at Utrecht between 1470 and 1500, the North Dutch Book of Hours includes the "Hours of the Eternal Wisdom," by Gerard Groot (a member of the Brothers of the Common Life), Hours of the Virgin, and Penitential Psalms.

Summary: This work on restitution usury and excommunication by Franciscus de Platea, an Italian Franciscan, was printed nine times in the 15th century, this edition being the second.

Summary: This work on restitution usury and excommunication by Franciscus de Platea, an Italian Franciscan, was printed nine times in the 15th century, this edition being the second.

Summary: The Pontificale Romanum contains the liturgical rites for the sacraments of confirmation and Holy orders performed by bishops. The work is called "liber pontificalis" (pontifical or papal book) here, as books bearing pontifical authority often were prior to the 16th century, but it should not be confused with the papal annals, also called Liber Pontificalis, which is used by historians of the early Roman Church

Summary: The Pontificale Romanum contains the liturgical rites for the sacraments of confirmation and Holy orders performed by bishops. The work is called "liber pontificalis" (pontifical or papal book) here, as books bearing pontifical authority often were prior to the 16th century, but it should not be confused with the papal annals, also called Liber Pontificalis, which is used by historians of the early Roman Church

Summary: A Vulgate Latin Bible, with the "glossa ordinaria" of Walafridus Strabo and others, the "glossa interlinearis" of Anselmus Laudunensis, the "postillae" of Nicolaus de Lyra, the "expositiones prologorum" of Guillelmus Brito, the "additiones" of Paulus Burgensis, and the "replicae" of Matthias Doring.

Summary: A Vulgate Latin Bible, with the "glossa ordinaria" of Walafridus Strabo and others, the "glossa interlinearis" of Anselmus Laudunensis, the "postillae" of Nicolaus de Lyra, the "expositiones prologorum" of Guillelmus Brito, the "additiones" of Paulus Burgensis, and the "replicae" of Matthias Doring.

Summary: Includes Sermo in festo annuntiationis Virginis Marie, Sermo de predestinato numero damnatorum and Sermo de cathensis.

Summary: Includes Sermo in festo annuntiationis Virginis Marie, Sermo de predestinato numero damnatorum and Sermo de cathensis.

A page from Les Heures de Nostre Dame including a miniature portrait of Saint Genevieve, who is shown holding a book and a candle being lit by an angel and demon, and a decorative border featuring plants, flowers, and berries.

A page from Les Heures de Nostre Dame including a miniature portrait of Saint Genevieve, who is shown holding a book and a candle being lit by an angel and demon, and a decorative border featuring plants, flowers, and berries.

A woodcut depiction of Saint Jerome seated at his desk with two books before him, one with Greek letters and another with Latin, representing his work translating the Bible. Jerome has turned from the books to remove a thorn from the paw of a lion, a popular story from the saint's life.

A woodcut depiction of Saint Jerome seated at his desk with two books before him, one with Greek letters and another with Latin, representing his work translating the Bible. Jerome has turned from the books to remove a thorn from the paw of a lion, a popular story from the saint's life.

Summary: Writings and disputations, relative to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Summary: Writings and disputations, relative to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Summary: Miscellaneous writings and letters.

Summary: Miscellaneous writings and letters.

Summary: This impotant work on natural theology was written by the Catalan scholar Raymond of Sabunde 1434-1436 and was circulated widely in manuscript form before being printed in Deventer 1484-85 and reprinted numerous times. Raymond places great emphasis on reason and argues that science is not antithetical to faith but that the Bible and the book of Nature should both be seen as divine revelation.

Summary: This impotant work on natural theology was written by the Catalan scholar Raymond of Sabunde 1434-1436 and was circulated widely in manuscript form before being printed in Deventer 1484-85 and reprinted numerous times. Raymond places great emphasis on reason and argues that science is not antithetical to faith but that the Bible and the book of Nature should both be seen as divine revelation.

A vellum leaf from a Dutch Book of Hours. The recto and verso have decorated borders, two- and five-line decorated initials, and an angel in the margin of the recto showing wounds on his hands and feet all in red and blue inks.

A vellum leaf from a Dutch Book of Hours. The recto and verso have decorated borders, two- and five-line decorated initials, and an angel in the margin of the recto showing wounds on his hands and feet all in red and blue inks.