Title: Summa Casuum Conscientiae. Sixtus IV: Bulla "Etsi dominici gregis" 30 Dec. 1479. Rubricae iuris civilis et canonici (Summa rosella), 1495. One of the Most Famous 15th Century Confessor Manuals
Author: Battista Travamala; Pope Sixtus
Publisher: Venezia, Georgius Arrivabenus
Condition: Good
A late 15th century edition of Travamala’s Sum of the Cases of Consciousness, being the second edition of the new version of one of the most important works of medieval casuistry, and one of the major 15th century manuals for confessors, revised by the author. The work deals with sins and ecclesiastical punishments, confirmation, ordination, the Eucharist, as well as the duties and rights of marriage. The author, Trovamala, a Minorite from Liguria, completed his new version of the Summa casuum conscientiae, which had already been completed in 1483, at the beginning of 1489. Like the first version, it was reprinted several times. Attached to the text is the bull of Pope Sixtus IV (etsi domiici grecis) against the misuse of indulgences by completing reserved cases without express papal approval. Rome, December 30, 1479, and two poems, ad Emptorem and ad Impressorem at the end.
Leaves 529-532 are lacking, supplemented with high quality photocopies bound in. The final leaf with the printer device is present, but another photocopy has been bound following it, to provide a better image of the leaf.
Enclosed at the end are several old booksellers and auction descriptions, showcasing a rather lengthy journey for the book over the last several decades.
One pigskin bound volume in small quarto, (2)+14+547 of 551 leaves
This volume is in good shape, with wear and old staining to the binding. Several leaves have been misbound out of order, including 487 and 488, which are in the wrong order. The first leaf has been restored and backed. There is some sporadic worming, more at the beginning and end. There is a bit of staining to the first handful of leaves.