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an old book with a drawing of a man holding a shield and a shieldan old book with a picture of a bird and a tree on itan old book with a drawing of a man on a crossan old book sitting on top of a white surfacea book that is sitting on top of a tablea book with a bookmark sticking out of it ' s coverthe back cover of a book with a stamp on itan old book with a black and red writing on ita page of a book with some writing on it
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231 - MAUR (Ruban). De Laudibus Sanctae Crucis.
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Estimate €500 - €800
Sale commission
Description
MAUR (Ruban). De Laudibus Sanctae Crucis. A famous, rare and highly sought-after work by Rabanus Maurus, a true masterpiece of poetry, imagery and typographical artistry, in which text and image are interwoven. [Phorcheim, published by Thomas Anshelmi, 1503]. 2 parts in one folio volume (312 x 225 mm), full vellum, overbound covers, plain spine decorated with a pasted-on label. Later binding, late 19th century. 7ff.n.ch., LIX-[1] f. ; XIIII-[1] f. Vellum slightly faded; fragments of the title label are missing. Five leaves are missing (Aa1, Aa2, Aa5, Aa6 and e1), including the title page and three of the introductory pieces. Signs of handling, some marginal foxing. Four loose leaves with shorter margins (b3, b4, c3 and c4) and significant water stains. Holes throughout the leaves, two at the beginning and about twenty towards the end, with no loss of text. Slight water stains at the edges. A very fine folio edition of the "Praises of the Holy Cross" printed in Pforzheim (Germany) in black and red Roman type. A major work by Raban Maur (780–856), a Benedictine monk, abbot of Fulda and later archbishop of Mainz, and one of the most important intellectual figures of the Carolingian Renaissance. This book, composed between 810 and 814, is a collection of poems in honour of the Holy Cross, combining text, imagery and numerical symbolism. Famous for its 28 magnificent diagrams, in which the verse sections are arranged in the form of calligrams and overlaid with geometric figures or characters. The letters arranged within the outlines of these figures or characters form a second poem within the first. The work opens with an image of Christ (on the cross), whose outstretched arms extend beyond the frame of the drawing and embrace the whole world. On the final page, we see Raban prostrating himself before the cross. Subsequently, in the second volume, Raban provides prose commentary on each of the preceding pages: he helps us understand that many of the geometric figures are highly sophisticated constructions based on numbers. Provenance: stamp reading ‘Cirque Pamfus 1915’. Complete set of 28 diagrams printed in red and black.
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About the sale Fine antique and collectible books, manuscripts and modern illustrated works
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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