Clement I, Pope

Opera Quae ad Hunc Usque Diem Extare Comperta Sunt...Rufino Torano Aquileinese interpreteParis: Apud Joannem Roigny [Excudebat Carola Guillard], 1544. Bound with: Justin Martyr. Beati Ivstini Philosophi & martyris opera omnia, quae adhuc inveniri potuerunt, id est, quae ex regis...Joachimo Perionio...Interprete...Paris: Jacob Dupuys, 1554.

First edition of the collected works of Clement I together with the first Latin edition of the works of Saint Justin Martyr. Large wood engraved device illustrating a printing press with three workmen on title page; engraved initial letters hand-colored in red, yellow, and blue; rubricated in red and blue. Separate title page for the six parts of the Justin Martyr work, each with the large woodcut device of Dupuys. Binding extremities lightly worn and very minor cracking to front and rear hinge. Small repair to outer margin of Clement title page. Light foxing and intermittent light toning. Occasional minor stain or chip. Paper imperfections on ff. 153 and 160. Very light worming to last few leaves. Previous ownership stamp to margins of the rectos of first few leaves. Contemporary Latin inscription in ink ("Ad usum Capucinorum Conventus Bisuntini") and slightly later ink inscription on Clement title page; same inscription in addition to a later seventeenth century ink inscription on the Justin Martyr title page. A tight, near fine copy. Seventeenth century mottled calf with gilt-tooled spine in seven compartments and a tan gilt-lettered spine label. Marbled edges. Folio. [8], 195, [2, blank]; [7], [2, blank], 127, 67, 35, 91, 80, 49, [1], [2, blank], [11], [+1, errata] pp. With the three blank leaves called for. Item #17138

Pope Clement I (papacy from 88 a.d. to his death in 99 a.d.) was the first of the "Apostolic Fathers." This edition of his works was printed by Charlotte Guillard, the first woman printer of importance, and edited by Joannes Sichardus. Copies appear with variant title pages, sometimes mentioning Charlotte Guillard as printer and sometimes not; likely the sheets were sent to different publishers who placed their names on the title pages. Clement is best known for a letter to the Christian congregation in Corinth, often called the First Epistle of Clement. It is considered the earliest authentic Christian document outside of the New Testament. The epistle offers valuable insight into Church ministry of that time and into the history of the Roman Church. Saint Justin Martyr (100 a.d.-165 a.d.) was an early Christian apologist, regarded as the foremost interpreter of the concept of the Logos in the second century.

The printer Charlotte Guillard (1485-1557) worked at the famous Soleil d'Or printing house, located in Paris, from 1502 until her death. She took over management of her husband's print shop after he died. . Her works were recognized for their beauty and accuracy. OCLC lists seven copies of the Clement and sixteen copies of the Justin Martyr in North America. Adams J495 (Justin Martyr).

Price: $3,500.00