Milestones of Science Books

ALVERNUS, Guilelmus (ARVERNUS or William of Auvergne).

Rethorica Diuina de Oratione domini Guilermi Parisien[sis]. (Rhetorica divina).

Freiburg i. Breisgau: Kilianus Piscator (Kilian Fischer), 1491.

2nd Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. Item #002953

Not after 1491. Folio (303 x 210 mm). 58 unfoliated leaves. Signatures: (*)⁸ a-b⁶ c⁴ d-f⁶ g⁴ h-i⁶. Colophon on i6r: "Explicit Rethorica diuina de oratione domini Guilermi parisiensis." Printed in blackletter, 2 columns, 51-52 lines, red painted lombards and rubricated throughout. Newly bound in cardboards using two incunable leaves of Justinian's Institutionum, plain vellum spine, new endpapers. Crisp internally with very little browning, slight marginal dust-soiling and occasional minor dampstaining mainly to gutter, first leaf heavier soiled and stained at gutter, several short contemporary annotations and finger markers in red ink. Collated complete. A fine, wide-margined copy. ----

GW 11866; Hain/Cop. 8303; Goff G 714; BMC III, 693; BSB G-476. SECOND EDITION AND THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN FREIBURG. The scholastic philosopher William of Auvergne (around 1180 to 1249) was active at the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1228 he was consecrated bishop of Paris and as such was also counselor to the young King Louis IX. Among his works, the treatise on divine oratory is one of the most important. Kilian Fischer was active as printer in Freiburg (Breisgau) from 1490 to 1494. In 1495 he moved to Offenburg. In his Divine Rhetoric William explains and outlines the art of prayer aiming at his priests and clerical people, or, The Oratorical Art of Divine Eloquence. Seven characteristics, or perfections, of prayer are listed and further explained in the work, but much better known it is for its Ciceronian rules of oratory applied to Christian oratory or prayer.
The attribution of the present work to this printer was controversial for long time, but based to further evidence the early attribution by the British Museum has prevailed that Kilian is in fact the printer of the Rhetorica Divina. Guillaume d'Auvergne was the author of several influential exegetical and instructional works for the clergy. He is one of the most important figures during the period of transition between the early scholasticism of the twelfth century, and the high scholasticism of Bonaventura and Thomas Aquinas. He is unfortunately sometimes confused with a Guillermus Parisiensis, author (in 1437) of the best-selling Postilla. - Visit our website for additional images and information.

Price: 8,000 €  *  convert currency