[Incunabula]. THOMAS CANTIPRATENSIS [Thomas de Cantimpré]. B - Lot 48

[Incunabula]. THOMAS CANTIPRATENSIS [Thomas de Cantimpré]. Bonum universale de proprietatibus apum. [Cologne, Johann Koelhoff the Elder, c. 1478-80]. In-folio of 133 [of 134] ff (Signs: a-o8, p7, q8, r6). Rubricated copy, initial of each of the two parts decorated in red and blue. Text in two columns of 39 lines. Fawn half-basane, richly ornamented smooth spine, fawn morocco t.p., boards covered with imitation shagreen paper (Binding circa 1830). Rare incunabulum of the work by the theologian, hagiographer and encyclopedist, the Flemish Dominican Thomas de CANTIMPRE (1201- 1272), Le bien universel ou les abeilles mystiques, written between 1256 and 1263, a work of moral and spiritual edification supported by examples and similitudes drawn from the lives of bees, which are used allegorically; "convents in particular are the emblem of the beehive" (long handwritten bibliographical note at the head of the work, probably written in the early 19th century). This copy contains valuable information on beekeeping in the Middle Ages. A few period headlines and marginal annotations in red ink. From the library of Château de Rosamel, with its engraved armorial bookplate; probably Claude DU CAMPE DE ROSAMEL (1774-1848), admiral, peer of France, deputy, Minister of the Navy and Colonies, probably the author of the long note at the head. Ref : Graesse, II, 38 ; ISTC, it00346000 ; Goff, T-347. The first quire, 8 ff. long, begins at a2, conforming to the copy in the Düsseldorf Library (https://digital.ulb.hhu.de/urn/urn:nbn:de:hbz:061:1-311478); leaf p8 lacking. Some dampstaining, the last three pages of the table are doubled and show some missing text; head jaws split.