Medieval Religious Texts of the Rare Book Room in Kent Library

Postilla seu Expositio Litteralis et Moralis Nicolai de Lira Ordinis Minorum Super Epistolas et Euangelia Quadragesimalia: Cum Questionibus Fratris Antonif Betontini Eiusdem Ordinis

 Latin, 1494

Published by Ottaviano Scotto, printed by Johannis Herczog in Latin in Venice in 1494.  This text is an incunabula, a book printed within 50 years of the creation of the printing press.  It features the writing and commentary of Nicolas of Lyra, Alexander of Hales, and Antonio Betontini.  The writings and commentaries are studies in exegesis, or critical explanations and interpretations of a text in order to have a clear and literal translation based of the original source.  These writings were very influential and help to bridge the gap in our understanding of the change from Catholic to Reformation Doctrine. 

• Commentaries on the Literal and Moral Exposition of Nicolas of Lyra of the Order Minor on the Lenten Gospels: with Questions by brother Antonio Betontini of the Same Order
• Oldest printed book in collection: Commentary on the Gospels and Epistles,
• Prepared by Nicholas of Lyra, a foremost Franciscan theologian and biblical interpreter of Middle Ages, Professor at the Sorbonne in the 14^th century, Scholars argue that his work had an important influence on Martin Luther
• Library copy “Bibliotecca Pubblica Carini” stamp
• Bound in vellum
• The book is in fair condition with some tears and repair work done
• It was printed on low quality paper, possibly for a student

Front cover of book, bound in leather. 

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Inside front cover. Note description pasted in by bookseller and Charles Harrison's "Ex Libris" bookplate, which appears in almost all of his 800 rare books. 

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This image shows the first page of text in this book. Note the stamp at the bottom of the page identifying the book as being owned by a public library at one time. 

The words around the square block of text would be the commentary of the wording contained in the middle square of the page. Since this was a commentary, it makes sense that the words around the "middle block" refer back to the gospel and epistle passages. 

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Note the discoloration (large yellow splotches) of the paper. Also interesting to see are the annotations in the margins which marked important passages for readers of this book. 

This text, being a printed book, is printed on paper unlike earlier examples in this guide which were written on vellum. Comparing the scribes hand to early printed work proves the scribes were capable of comparable work to printing presses, though transcribing texts took much longer than printing books. 

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