Title: Concordantiae Bibliorum, 1485. Koberger Concordance with a Beautiful 11-Line Pen and Ink Initial, and Occasional Rubrication. Exceedingly Rare at Auction, and bearing the provenance of Windberg Abbey
Author: Conradus de Alemania [de Halberstadt]
Publisher: Nürnberg, Anton Koberger
Condition: Very Good
A late 15th century, and third edition of de Alemania’s (also known as Konrad von Halberstadt) Bible Concordance, first published in 1473. This is not to be confused with the Concordance printed by Peter Drach in the same year, as our collation is vastly different.
The authorship of the concordance has come into uncertainty, and to quote GW, “Of two Dominicans of this name, the older one was published in 1321 at the General Chapter of Florence, the younger was a lecturer at the Order School in Magdeburg in 1342 and 1350, a master of theology in 1345, a vicar in 1350, a provincial of the Saxon Order Province from 1351 to 1354, and died after 1362”
The work is printed on strong laid paper, and there is a beautiful 11-line pen and ink initial at the very beginning, painted in red, blue and yellow. There is also a scattering of red lombard rubrication throughout.
There is an ex-libris inscription, for that of the Bavarian monastery Windberg Abbey, first founded in 1167 by Albert I of Bogen. Regierung von Mittelfranken. Coincidentally, the abbot in 1955, Norbert Backmund, also visited Beeleigh Abbey, and was hosted by its owner, the noted British bookseller William Foyle. There is also a dated sheet from the Regierung von Mittelfranken, with several dates from the 1970s.
The double leaf V3/V6 is lacking, replaced in facsimile. Both blanks are also lacking.
This volume has been newly rebacked by bookbinder Keith Felton.
Copies are exceedingly rare at auction, with only one hammer result within the last several decades.
One volume in large folio, 416 of 420 leaves
This volume is in very good shape, with heavy rubbing and wear to the original boards, and some old chipping. There is scattered browning and staining, with some marginal dampstaining, more to the last third of the volume. There are a few worm tracks.