TRITHEMIUS, Johannes (1462–1516). De scriptoribus ecclesiasticis. Edited by Johannes (Heynlin) de Lapide. Basel: Johann Amerbach, [after 28 August] 1494.

First edition of the first printed bibliography. The first modern bibliography compiled as a practical work of reference, Trithemius work lists authors ranging from Dante and Petrarch, to Schedel and Brant and other celebrated writers who receive detailed entries. The work is particularly useful today as it also lists incipits for many small and obscure texts that would otherwise be lost to time. Almost 1,000 authors are included in chronological order (from Pope Clemens I and Seneca to Hartmann Schedel and Tritheim himself) and approximately 7,000 titles. Tritheim was successively abbot of the Benedictine monasteries of Sponheim and Würzburg (‘Schottenkloster’), both of which had important libraries. Trithemius concludes with a colophon stating: ‘Scientia non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem’ (Knowledge has no enemy but the unaware). HC *15613; BMC III 755; Bod-inc T-249; BSB-Ink T-459; CIBN T-327; GW M47578; Goff T-452; Klebs 990.1; ISTC it00452000.

Chancery folio (310 × 212mm). 148 leaves. Initial spaces with guide-letters (wormed, first gathering sprung, i5 stained at top with a few light stains elsewhere, m6 with 60mm closed tear at margin). Contemporary half blind-stamped doeskin over wooden boards, catchplates with partial clasp surviving (wormed, some losses to spine ends and one tip, scrape to the doeskin on upper board, front hinge cracked but holding), modern custom box. Provenance: early annotations to text – Benedictine Abbey of Reichenau on Lake Constance (‘Mon[aste]rii S. Marci in Augia divite’ inscription on title) – A.V. Gram (inscription to title dated 1877) – Alan Noel Latimer Munby (1913–1974, English librarian and bibliographer; bookplate).