Sermones Pomerii fratris Pelbartis de Themeswar diui ordinis sancti Fra[n]cisci De Tempore by [PELBARTUS DE THEMESWAR, Oswaldus (c.1435-1504)] - 1507

Haguenau: Heinrich Gran for Johann Rynman, 1507. Hardcover. Very Good+. [Bound with:] Sermo[n]es Quadrigesimales Pomerii fratris Pelbarti de Themeswar diui ordinis sancti Fra[n]cisci. Haguenau: Heinrich Gran for Johann Rynman, 1507. Two parts in ne volume, folio (280x 200mm). 233ff. (of 234, lacking blank in first quire). Collation: Part I: 1(7 of 8), 2(6), a-b(8), c(6), d(8), e(6), f-g(8), h(6), i-k(8), l-m(6), n(8), o-p(6), q(8), r-s(6), t(8), v-y(6), z(8), A-K(6). Part II. a-p(6), q(5 of 6). Text in double column in Gothic type with printed guide letters. Period paneled calf and remnants of decorated clasps; (spine partly perished and worn, first few gatherings starting loose at gutter, some light toning, especially to second part, small marginal tear to a6 in pat II, otherwise good). Front pastedown with presentatiron inscription in Latin with date 1521 beside 19th-century library label of "Biblioth. C.SS.R." the St. Iacobum Redemptorists in Baltimore Province, Maryland. The letters CSSR stand for Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris. The Redemptorists also stamped the first page of the Tabula. The title page inscribed in Latin, "Monasterii Montis S. Georgii." The Benedictine Monastery of Mount St. George (Georgenberg), is in the Tyrol region of Austria. The Monastery held an impressive number of ancient manuscripts and books. Founded in 1138, it is the oldet extant monastery in the Tyrol. The first page of the Tabula in this copy is inscribed again at Georgenberg and dated 1661. The marginal annotations that are scattered throughout the volume likely connect to its time in Georgenberg during the early modern era.

Rare post-incunable sermon book, an important theological work in Franciscan literary tradition, from Haguenau. Gran and Rynman also produced 1498, 1499, and 1500 editions and favored other works by Pelbartus de Themeswar in subsequent printings. A popular work, there were nine editions of the Sermones by Pelbartus de Themeswar before 1520. This edition is rarely found in US institutions. When Gran established himself in the Alsatian town of Haguenau in 1489 he was limited in his work and capital and only produced the occassional sermon or grammar book. By 1497, there were enough printers in Haguenau to form a fratern association to benefit local businesses. Soonafter, Gran began a fruitful partnership with the Augsburg trader, Johann Rynman, and contracted him for supplies to help his press flourish. The publication of this sermon book written by the popular Hungarian Franciscan preacher, Pelbartus de Themeswar, dates from the time of the prosperous relationship between the printer and his financial backer. The preacher's sermons date much earlier and remain an intriguing specimen of late medieval Franciscan sermon literature. By the end of the fifteenth century, the Hungarian Franciscan order underwent a major reform, which impelled the Franciscans to explore the tradition of their community. Parallell to these reforms, Pelbartus de Themeswar's preaching devoted less coverage to the life and sanctity of St. Francis and instead favored teaching the liberal arts and abstract theological concepts.