Joannes Chrysostomus, In sanctum Jesu Christi evangelium secundum Joannem commentarii, and other works, Antwerp, 1542, Bolognese panel-stamped black morocco

JOANNES CHRYSOSTOMUS. D. Ioannis Chrysostomi episcopi Constantinopolitani in sanctum Jesu Christi evangelium secundum Ioannem commentarii, diligenter ab Arrianorum faecibus purgati, & in lucem in sacre pagine tyronum gratiam modo recens sub minori forma edita. Antwerp: Jan Steels, 1542 [bound with:]

Passio Domini nostri Iesu Christi secundum Matthaeum in decem Homilias divisa, per D. Ioannem Chrysostomum. Antwerp: Jan Steels, 1542

D. Ioan. Chrysostomi Constantinopolitani episcopi, Commentarium in Acta Apostolorum, Desiderio Erasmo Roterodamo interprete. Antwerp: Jan Steels, 1542

A set of homilies and biblical commentaries by John Chrysostom. The same panel stamp appears on other Bolognese bindings (De Marinis 1349-1351); a variant stamp has a circular centre rather than an octagonal one (De Marinis 1352). The gilt stamp of John the Baptist was presumably added by the first owner, Giovanni Battista Marchandoni. The spine has the title lettered longitudinally.

3 works bound in 2 volumes, 8vo (164 x 96 mm). Roman type, 38 lines plus headline. (1) Collation: **⁴ a-z A-V⁸ X⁴: 352 leaves. (2) A-F⁸: 47 (of 48 leaves, lacking F8 containing end of text and printer’s device). (3) A-Z Aa-Ll⁸ Mm⁴: 276 leaves. Woodcut initials, woodcut device at end of each part. (Title to first part with section excised at foot, title to third part stained with mentions of Erasmus crossed through, Erasmus’s name on A2 inked over.)

Binding: Contemporary Bolognese panel-stamped black morocco (170 x 112 mm), plausibly by the Ebeleben Binder, covers with a large blind panel of leafy decoration, central gilt stamp of John the Baptist, spines with blind hatching and title gilt-lettered longitudinally, second volume with later gilt date 1542 at foot of spine, edges painted black, stubs from 4 pairs of ties. (Bindings slightly rubbed, some wormholes in first volume, particularly in spine, corners and ends of spine repaired; second volume with ends of spine repaired, joints creased, new rear pastedown and endleaf.)

Provenance: Giovanni Battista Marchandoni (?) of Gabiano (?), early inscription in red ink on title-pages (crossed through) — [second volume only] Robert Redman Belshaw, of Dublin, armorial bookplate, and presentation bookplate dated February 1913 to the Linen Hall Library, Belfast, with their embossed stamp on title-page — [both volumes] Maggs Bros, catalogue 1142 (London, 1992), item 10. Acquisition: Purchased in 1992 from Maggs Bros, London. References: USTC 408265, 408266, 400698; STCV 12916567, 12923552, 12915191