ODENDORFF, Henricus de.

by Henricus de Odendorff

£15,000 · Offered by Sokol Books

Attractive first edition of this encyclopedia of canon law. This incunable was beautifully produced by Albrecht Kunne (b. 1435), the earliest printer of the Upper Swabia region in Germany. Kunne was an expert on printing types he designed and created the lead letters himself and this is the first appearance of his own Schwabacher , a vibrant and decorative gothic type that resembles handwriting. Remarkably, this volume also contains one of the earliest examples of printed manicules. These fine little hands (maniculae), originally used in manuscripts to draw attention to important points in text, were introduced in print by Leonhard Pachel and Ulrich Scinzenzeller in 1479. Kunne was among the first to adopt and reproduce this symbol. The volume is further embellished with calligraphic hand-painted initials in blue and red ink. Henricus de Odendorff (often spelled Oldendorp/Odendorp, c. 1360-1400), was born in Cologne. A licentiatus utriusque iuris meaning he obtained a doctorate in both civil and church law, he became rector at the University of Vienna in 1385 and contributed to the drafting of its statutes. He died, probably from the plague, around 1399-1400. Repetitio capituli, is an encyclopaedia on confession comprising a detailed explanatory commentary on Canon 21, Omnis utriusque sexus (Everyone of both sexes), issued by the IV Lateran Council in 1215. This commands all Christians above twelve years of age, male or female, lay or clerical, to confess all sins at least on

• Binding: Hardcover

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