Augustinus, Aurelius. De civitate Dei
Folio, approximately 29.5 x 21 cm.
Venice, Nicolaus Jenson, 2 October 1475.
300 unnumbered sheets (of 306, 4 text sheets as well as the first and last white sheet are missing). Parchment volume of the 19th century

GW 2879; Hain/Cop. 2051; Goff A 1235; BMC V, 175; BSB A-858. Early, particularly elegantly printed edition of one of the major works of St. Augustine and at the same time one of the most influential philosophical works of the early Middle Ages until modern times. In "Of the Divine State" the Church Father discusses the main currents of ancient philosophy and notes their shortcomings. At the same time, he defends Christianity against the accusations that it brought about the downfall of the Roman Empire, and emphasizes that the decisive factor is not the earthly state but the state of God, which exists independently of political power. - Altogether the sixth edition, first printed in 1467. The works of French-born Nicolas Jenson (1420-1480) are considered the most attractive books of the Venetian Renaissance and continue to serve as inspiration for typographers to this day. This edition is also significant in terms of printing history, as the name of the printer first appears at the beginning of the text ("Nicolaus Jenson gallicus"). - In Gothic type, two columns of 46 lines each with red and blue Lombards and initials often decorated with curlicues. - Partly cleaned copy, a few leaves with small repairs in margin, the first text leaf and about 8 more probably from another copy, completed and differently browned. Some old marginalia, some with somewhat blurred initials, some with small wet margins or a few foxing spots. Binding rubbed and cracked at the spine. (1221782) (13)