Spiegel Menschlicher Behaltnuss mitt Sampt den Ewangelien und Epistelen.

[Spiegel Menschlicher Behaltnuss mitt Sampt den Ewangelien und Epistelen. Augsburg: Johann Schönsperger, 1500]. 4to (254 x 180mm). Printed in double column, 40-lines, hand-coloured woodcut illustrations (lacks all before a6, but 4 leaves supplied in crude facsimile, some leaves torn or re-margined with loss, lightly browned throughout, some spotting and staining). Contemporary panelled vellum over boards elaborately decorated in blind, spine with 4 raised bands, 2 leather clasps (some repairs, new endpapers). Provenance: unidentified manuscript coat of arms on front pastedown; Detlef Mauss (blindstamp to front free endpaper). A German translation of Speculum humanae salvationis ('The Mirror of Human Salvation'), an encyclopedic work of popular theology which was widely disseminated in manuscript form and in printed form principally throughout the incunable period. The work is believed to have originated between 1309, as there is a reference in the text to the Pope being at Avignon, and 1324, the date on two copies. It was first printed in 'block book' form in Utrecht in 1466, and in a combination of woodcut and movable-type by Günther Zainer in Augsburg in 1473 in both a Latin and a German edition. The author is unknown. Goff S-669. Sold not subject to return.