Third Order of Saint Francis, Generalia statuta, Venice, Sons of Aldo Manuzio, 1551, English red morocco by Samuel Charles Smith

Third Order of Saint Francis. Generalia statuta, sive decreta fratrum Tertij ordinis sancti Francisci, de poenitentia nuncupati, regularis observantiae Congregationis Longobardae in habitu heremitico degentium. Venice: Sons of Aldo Manuzio, 1551

[Bound with:] Apostolica privilegia fratrum Tertij ordinis sancti Francisci, de poenitentia nuncupati, regularis obseruante Congregationis Longobardae in habitu heremitico degentium. Venice: Sons of Aldo Manuzio, 1551

[And:] Ordinationi delli frati osseruanti, & regolari del Terzo ordine di san Francesco, chiamato della penitentia, della Congregatione di Lombardia, che uiuono in habito heremitico. Venice: Sons of Aldo Manuzio, 1551

3 works in one volume, 4to (166 x 129 mm). Roman type with some italic, 25 lines. Generalia statuta: collation: A-K⁴: 40 leaves. Apostolica: collation: AA-GG⁴: 28 leaves. Ordinationi: collation: a⁴ [b]²: 6 leaves. The first work printed in black and red, woodcut of St. Francis on titles, woodcut Aldine devices on versos of last leaf of each title, historiated initials; 7pp. manuscript in a humanistic hand by Gregorio Alberti bound at end, dated Rome, June 21, 1634 (see below). (A few leaves lightly spotted or soiled, small wormhole on I1-2 affecting two words, trimmed a little close at head.)

binding: English red morocco by Samuel Charles Smith (fl. 1813-1828) (172 x 134 mm), interlaced gilt fillets forming border with floral tools at midpoint of each side, spine gilt, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. (Slightly rubbed at extremities, spine a trifle faded, small stain to upper cover, bookplate removed from front flyleaf.)

provenance: Gregorio Alberti, Minister General of the Franciscans of the Third Order Regular (1634–1637), appended manuscript "Ordini da osseruarsi in ciascheduna Prouintia delli frati" — Sir John Thorold, 9^th Bt. (1734–1815) — Sir John Hayford Thorold, 10^th Bt. (1773–1831), ex libris — Sir John Henry Thorold, 12^th Bt. (1842–1922); his sale, Sotheby's London, 12–19 December 1884, lot 1836 — Bernard Quaritch, Rough list of valuable and rare books … removed from Syston Park (London 1885), item 516 (£1 5s); Catalogue of the monuments of the early printers (London 1888), item 36926 — Henry John Beresford Clements (1869–1940), ex libris — Col. Henry Theophilus Wickham Clements (1898–1974) — Sotheby's London, 4 July 1966, lot 404 — Dawsons of Pall Mall, London, bought in sale (£52). acquisition: Purchased from John Fleming, New York, 1986. references: (1) UCLA 407; Renouard 149/2; Edit16 27023; USTC 852290; (2) UCLA 406; Renouard 150, 3; Edit16 27017; USTC 852289; (3) UCLA 409; Renouard 150/4; Edit16 27020; USTC 852291