Author: [Ambrosius,Saint] Sancti Ambrosii Mediolanensis Episcopi
Title: OPERA ex editione Romana
Description: Paris, cum privilegio Regis [Compagnie de la Grand-Navire] 1632 Frontispiece portrait of Saint Ambrose +headpieces & historiated initials + 4 fine large ship printer's marks showing a Warship in full-battle dress/banners flying,sailors climbing rigging/ g. TWO lg.folio Books containing 5 volumes. Calf spined boards with sm.leather tips to corners and 5 blindtooled raised bands to spine with gilt titles and volume numbers to spine [18th century binding?/edges rubbed] All Edges Red. The first and Second volume are under one titlepage only as the second volume begins mid-page on columns 623/4 thus only 4 Ship titlepages are called for. First book begins: Half title with frontispiece on verso + titlepage Printed in Red and Black with large Ship copperplate on verso "Sixtus Papa V" with figural initial capital letter. + [2p=4 oval church fathers interspersed by 3 floral vases] +2p=Ad lectorem +1150 numbered columns [2 per page thus = 575pp] +[1p=blank] + titlepage with repeat of large ship engraving + 656 numbered columns BOOK II Ship titlepage in red & black + to verso ="S.[St.] Augustinus contra Julianum Pelagianum" + [2p="Liborum Tractatuum"] +552 columns + ship titlepage + [1p= "nicolaus Papa" + 4 historiated ovals + floral decorations above "..Xysto V. Pont. MAX. + [5pp =Elenchus eorum"] + 678 columns + [40pp=Loci Sacrarum] + 208 paginated pages of Index. The first and last pages of each book are slightly dusty and the portrait is somewhat offset onto the facing titlepage.The last 7 leaves of book have a lower corner tide-mark but paper is crisp and strong.The first and last few leaves have a marginal tidemark not touching text to the front and rear of the second book. Thoughout the books the paper is crisp, clean and well attached to the binding. There is a small 19th century printed label to the front pastedown of each book reading Bibl.D.P.Trunc. And "Z15" inked in below the printed area. These Opera contain commentaries on the books of the bible, sermons, Glosses on Gospels etc "His brilliant religious writings molded classic learning [and his] name associated with type of plainsong called Ambrosian chant"(Chambers Encyclopedia).The fine ship titlepages are known as the "Compagnie de la Grand-navire" and this Royal Publisher was a state-monopoly imbued with all the prestiege & vainglory of the French Crown.

Keywords: Early church saint sought after for Fine Titlepages


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