LOT 274

[UNKNOWN. ALSATICA].

SALICETUS (Nicolaus).

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SALICETUS (Nicolaus).

A book of devotional meditations and prayers known as the *Anthidotarius anime*, with an inserted plate. (Hagenau, Heinrich Gran, 5 September 1494). In-8, (136) ff. [sign. A–R 8 (last blank)]. Early 16th-century pigskin vellum on wooden boards, spine with three raised bands, covers decorated with blind-stamped interlacing bands and floral rosettes, original clasp refitted, restorations, upper endpaper replaced (defects including rubbing to covers, corners worn; stains and soiling, gaps in the margins restored; water damage to the upper endpaper and at the end of the volume, leather bookmarks cut off).

Matthaeus Stern (or Stein? Handwritten bookplate dated 1608 and 1609, repeated); other old handwritten bookplates: Christian Frazer[...?]; an abbey, 1650; a gift from F. Lauger to Pastor Solier in Le Havre, 1863.

GW M39476. ISTC is00042000. Goff, S-42. Hain, 14165.

A popular collection of devotional texts compiled by Nicolaus Salicetus. The first known edition dates from 9 July 1489 in Strasbourg, published by Johann Reinhard. This is, chronologically, the fourth edition of 1494; the first two were published in Strasbourg by Johann Reinhard, dated 4 March and 30 June respectively, and the third in Nuremberg by Caspar Hochfeder, dated 31 August.
Having obtained a doctorate in medicine from the University of Paris in 1461, Nicolaus Salicetus became a Cistercian monk at Sankt Urban or Frienisberg, then abbot of Baumgarten in the Bas-Rhin between 1482 and shortly before 1490. This explains why 8 of the 11 editions prior to 1495 originate from Strasbourg or Haguenau. He died around 1493–1494.
Some of the 24 editions considered to be incunabula, such as the Haguenau edition, feature a proto-title page bearing the inscription: "Liber meditationum ac orationum devotarum qui Anthidotarius anime dicitur cum tabula insertus".