Gerson, Johannes (1363-1429)

Conclusiones de Diversis Materiis Moralibus, sive de Regulis Madatorum. Cologne: Ulrich Zel, about 1467.Quarto, [a]-[e]8, complete, 40 of 40 leaves, with first and last blanks present; two large contemporary gilt initials on recto and verso of first leaf; text in gothic letter, single column throughout, rubricated throughout, with initials, paragraph marks, and stroked capitals in a contemporary hand in red; bound in 19th century half leather with marbled paper boards; with a four-page autograph letter signed by Harvard Librarian John Langdon Sibley (1804-1885) to Mrs. M.W. Chapman, dated March 1843, tipped onto ffep, regarding this book, saying in part "It is the oldest printed book I have seen, and perhaps the oldest printed book in America." In a post script, he amends this statement, noting that Harvard has since received a gift of two books that may be earlier from Dr. Greenwood's library; subsequently purchased at the 1855-1856 Christmas Anti-slavery Bazaar in Boston by John Carter Brown, with a signed dated inscription on free endleaves, 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.Goff G202; HC 7640; Voull(K) 461; Pell 5141; Bod-inc G-099; Sheppard 605; Oates 286, 287; Pr 803; BMC I 180; GW 10733; ISTC ig00202000