Carthage

1558 · rif. 31540 — Basel: A. & G. Way prs. 1558. Folio 29.4 cm 11.6". 8 ff. 368 8 pp. St. Cyprian was Bishop of Carthage between 249 and 258 when he was martyred upon return from exile in Curubis for his part in the baptismal controversy 255–57. His writings "give => a vivid picture of Christian life in Carthage especially during the persecutions and throw light on the organization of the Church not only in Africa from Mauretania to Tripolitania but also in Spain Gaul and Rome itself. At the same time they reveal the character and activities of Cyprian a bishop often in peril of his life but totally dedicated to his flock and while a leader of men beloved and respected by Christian and pagan alike yet the object of slander and opposition from a handful of his clergy" NCE. The text is in Latin printed in roman and italic enlivened by handsome woodcut initials of various design and size; the printer's large device of a three-headed Hermes holding a caduceus appears on both the title-page and final verso. Printer Hervagius Johann Herwagen 1497– ca. 1558 moved to Basel from Strasbourg in 1528 to marry the widow of Johann Froben and take part in Froben's famous printing firm there; in 1531 he established his own press at the Nadelberg Froben's house and the former residence of Erasmus. Some of the first products of Herwagen's press were works by Erasmus who also edited the present text for the first edition by Froben in 1520. Provenance: Contemporary ink monogram JCP expanded to "Joh: Chr: Pychey" on title-page. VD16 C6516; Index Aurel. 149.099; Adams C3160; Vander Haeghen II 24; BM STC 234; NCE IV 564–66 Cyprian. On Herwagen see: Contemporaries of Erasmus. Recent full black morocco ruled in blind old style; raised bands accented with blind ruling title gilt on red morocco spine label and date gilt collector-style at spine base. Title-page dust-soiled and expertly repaired in upper outer corner away from print. Glue stains on title-page verso from former bookplate; occasional very minor foxing and light dampstaining in bottom margin of some leaves. A few small inkstains from same pen as sparse contemporary marginalia and underlining. => A handsome handsome volume. A. & G. Way, prs. hardcover books