Beschreibung:

AMBROSIUS, Bishop of Milan (c. 339-397). De officiis . - Paulinus MEDIOLANENSIS: Vita S. Ambrosii . - AMBROSIUS: Vita S. Agnetis; Passio S. Vitalis et Agricolae; Passio S. Protasii et Gervasii et de inventione corporum . Milan: Christophorus Valdarfer, 7 Janaury 1474. Median 4° (240 x 168mm). Collation: [1-11 8 12 10 ; 13 14 8 ; 15 8 ; 16 8 ] (1/1r De officiis, 12/1r vita s. Ambrosii secundum Paulinum ; 15/1r vita s. Agnetis a s. Ambrosio edita, 15/7r passio ss. Vitalis et Agricolae; 16/1r passio ss. Protasii et Gervasii, 16/3r Ambrosii ad Marcellinam de inventione corporum ss. Protasii et Gervasii ). 128 leaves. 28 lines. Type: 2:107 R. Initial spaces. Foliation in manuscript. (Some waterstaining and light creasing of leaves.) Modern vellum, title penned on lower page edge. Fifth edition of Ambrosius's De officiis , and first edition of his life by Paulinus Mediolanensis. St. Ambrose was partly responsible for the conversion of St. Augustine (386) who greatly revered him. The De officiis , his most important work, was a treatise on Christian ethics, based on Cicero, which had special reference to the clergy. This edition has an important place in the work of Christophorus Valdarfer who ceased to be active as master-printer at Venice some time before November 1471. The next recorded mention of his name is at Milan on 6 August 1473, and the Ambrose is the first known book printed at his second press. It is also the only book, produced on his own account, in which he used this regular text type with heavy capitals. H *910; GW 1611; BMC VI, 725 (IB. 26203); Polain (B) 4132; Pellechet 593; IGI 431; Goff A-560.