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DURANDUS, Guillelmus (1237-96, O.P., Bishop of Mende). Rationale divinorum officiorum . Mainz: Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer, 6th October 1459. Royal 2° (390 x 270mm). PRINTED ON VELLUM IN THREE COLOURS (text in black, initials in red and blue). Collation: [1-3 1 0 4 8 5-6 1 0 7 6(5+1) 8 2]: books I-IV, 1r prologue incipit (contractions resolved) Quecumque in ecclesiasticis officiis , 1v book I incipit Prius est ut de ecclesia , 7/5+1r incipit conserventur, pro eis qui sunt in purgatorio , 8/2v blank; [9 8 10 6]: bk V, 9/1r incipit Legitur in exo. xxv. c. in fine. dominus dixisse ; [11-15 1 0 16 8]: bk VI, 11/1r incipit In proxime precedenti parte de divinis officiis , 16/8v blank; [17 1 0 18 1 0(9+1)]: bks VII-VIII, 17/1r incipit Postquam de divinis officiis in genere , 18/9+1r incipit in omni mense cuis lunnacio est , 18/10r colophon Presens racionalis divinorum codex officiorum venustate capitalium decoratus, rubricationibusque distinctus. Artificiosa adinventione imprimendi ac caracterizandi: absque calami exaratione sic effigiatus. Et ad eusebiam dei industrie est consummatus Per Johannem fust civem Maguntinum. Et petrum Gernszheym, Clericum diocesis eiusdem. Anno domini Millesimo quadringentesimo quinquagesimonono. Sexto die Octobris , 18/10v blank. 160 leaves. Gothic types 3:91 (text), 5:118 (colophon). Double column, 63 lines, 8 pinholes to the sheet (some visible). RUBRICATION: eight two-colour decorative book initials (4 red with blue surround, 4 blue with red surround, ranging from 7 to 22 lines, see below; marginal initial I omitted from bk II); most book and chapter headings printed in red, some in manuscript, a few omitted; numerous 3-line chapter lombards (others in manuscript, some 45 initials omitted); occasional paragraph-marks printed in red, many omitted or in manuscript, no capital-strokes. (Long crease in fo.1 flattened, soiling to the same leaf, light stains to 8 pages including final leaf, very minor repair to margin of 10 leaves.) Gold-tooled crushed red morocco oven thick pasteboard, multiple fillets around the sides, circular floral tool in the corners, spine decorated and lettered in compartments, multiple fillets and another flower tool on wide turn-ins, vellum endleaves and flyleaves, gilt edges [1830s binding, by Charles Lewis]. Provenance : early underlining in brown ink on final 37 pages of part I -- Richard Mostyn, Esq. (2 autograph letters signed by W. Foulkes, dated 13 March 1720 from "Beachwood", Herts, and 7 May 1720 from Cursitor's Alley, London, respectively). Foulkes first writes to Mostyn "at the Bath Somersetshire," apparently in reply to an inquiry; he quotes a short account of the book by Sir Thomas [Saunders] Sebright, M.P. for Hertfordshire, whose own copy of the Mainz Durandus is listed by De Ricci among the "Exemplaires disparus" (DeR 65.52). He discusses the value, past and present, of Durandus, mentioning the two "editions" of the book and asking after the condition of Mostyn's copy. He would consult Sir Thomas "here" [at Beechwood], who is tied down to business at the House of Commons. When he corresponds again two months later, "the conversation runs so entirely upon South Sea, that matters of Learning are quite out of the Question." He estimates the current value of Durandus between £30 and £40 "if a fair copy," which is lower than it used to be, but expresses his willingness to make further inquiries about selling the book if Mostyn will tell him the price he wants to realise. -- Philip Hurd (1832 sale, £58-16-0 to) -- Payne & Foss, sold for £70 to Beriah Botfield (P. & F. Acquisitions, p.30). FIRST EDITION of dozens in the 15th century (GW 9101-44). The author was one of the principal canonists of his day, but this compendium on the mystical origins and meaning of the liturgies is his most influential work. His arrangement of pontifical ceremonies forms the direct ancestor of the Clementine Pontificale Romanum . In the Mainz canon of prototypography it is preceded