James Cummins Bookseller

Ulm: Johann Zainer, [c. 1480].

Price: $35,000.00

About the item

[293 of 296 leaves; lacking first 2 leaves of the Calendar, and final blank. [•6 ••8 a–x8 y12 z8 A–L8 M3]. 1 vols. 8vo; 111 x 90 mm. An Incunable of the Utmost Rarity. Bound in 18th-century paper boards, with remnant of morocco spine label, edges stained red. Spine defective and covers rubbed, but binding is sound; several leaves bear stubs at outer edge from former index tabs; first leaf of Psalter extended at inner margin; final two leaves slightly waterstained; some browning and occasional stains; text block seriously trimmed but never into text. Notes on front endpapers, and a presentation inscription in 1826 from a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church U.S. In a custom half-morocco slipcase and chemise. Goff Suppl. P1041a; H 13475*; C 4927; GW M36206; ISTC No.: ip01041500.

Item #254000

Johann Zainer the Elder (fl. 1472-93) established the first printing press at Ulm, where his first book is dated 1473. This pocket psalter by Zainer is undated; the colophon gives only the printer’s name and the city in which it was printed. ISTC gives a conjectural date of around 1480.

The book’s handy but fragile format, a thick octavo that would have been easily portable for late fifteenth-century users, doubtless guaranteed a low survival rate. Indeed the few copies which have survived are often incomplete fragments, or in poor condition.

ISTC gives the following locations: France: Strasbourg BNU (imperfect, wanting Commune sanctorum); Germany: Bamberg SB; Berlin SB; Fulda HLB; Leipzig DB/Buch (fragment, missing); München BSB (2, imperfect); Stuttgart WLB (3); U.S.A: Washington DC, Washington Cathedral Library (this copy)

The present copy — the only copy in America — is complete, save for the first two leaves of the Calendar, and the blank leaf at the end.