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an old book with a painting of jesus on the crossan old book with red writing on it sitting on top of a tablean old book with a red writing on it
ALDE

54 - [THOMAS A KEMPIS]. *Imitatio Christi*.
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Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
Sale commission
Description
[THOMAS A KEMPIS]. *Imitatio Christi*. [Followed by: GERSON (Jean). *De meditatione cordis*]. Venice, [Johann Leoviller for] Francesco de’ Madi, 1486. In-8, [2], 65 ff. (marked π2 a–g8 h10); red velvet, plain, uninscribed spine, blue edges, leather marginal tabs, slipcase (modern binding). A precious incunabulum edition of the most important of devotional books. The Imitation of Christ – now attributed to the Dutch monk Thomas a Kempis (c. 1380–1471) – was at that time attributed to Jean Gerson (1363–1429), Chancellor of the University of Paris from 1395 to 1415, whose treatise *De meditatione cordis* forms the second part of the volume. One of the rare prints by the German printer Johann Leoviller of Hallis, probably originally from Leoweiler in Swabia, who worked on behalf of the Venetian booksellers Franz Renner, Francesco de’ Madi and Ottaviano Scoto. The text, set in Gothic type, is printed in two columns of 35 lines. The copy is rubricated and adorned with attractive red initials. Enriched with a very fine Ghent-Bruges miniature: Crucifixion, Bruges 1510–1520, in the style of Simon Bening (c. 1483–1561), mounted on a flyleaf of the volume (11 x 8 cm). One blank folio inserted after the two title folios. A small ink stain in the margin of a few leaves. ISTC ii00011000 – HC 9090* – Goff I-11 – Pr 5665 – BMC V, 406 – GW M46812 – De Backer, *De imitatione Christi*, no. 21.
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About the sale Fine antique books – A library in the Languedoc
Auction location
Auction time 10/20/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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