THE ONLY “MIRROR” LITERATURE FOR FARMERS (COLOGNE, c.1481)

Rolewinck, Werner: [a2r:] Incipit libellus de regimine rusticorum, qui etiam valde utilis est curatis, capellanis, drossatis, schultetis ac alijs officiarijs eisdem in utroque statu presidentibus. [Cologne, Bartholomaeus de Unkel, not before 1481].

Full discussion available here.

Early edition - usually described as the third - of this unusual and fascinating book of moral advice for farmers. It follows the model of the medieval “mirror” genre of writing for kings, princes, and others. It is however the only book properly of this type written for agricultural workers (Henn). The prolific author (1425-1502), famous as a chronicler, was a son of farmers of Westphalia and a Carthusian monk of Cologne, where our book was printed.

Details

One volume, 20.4 cms. x 14.6 cms. in binding, quarto, 69 (of 70) fols., signed a-h⁸ i⁶, lacking blank a1. Sig. i6, blank, present. 27 lines per page. Capital spaces, the first with printed guide letter. Most spaces with added red lombard initial (a few with lombard initial faded away). The first capital space, and others, were left blank. Printed initials slashed in yellow throughout. 19 short manuscript early marginal glosses (faded), reader’s marks from same time.

Binding of green goatskin, covers filleted in gilt, spine with five raised bands, compartments with lozenges ruled with dots with flower stamp at centre of each and crescent to corners, second and third compartments with gilt lettering. Gilt filleting to sides and decorative rule to dentelles, marbled pastedown and endpapers, green silk ribbon, all edges gilt (binding slightly rubbed and worn but good).

Light or medium browning, foxing, spotting and staining - including inky finger prints possibly from time of printing (sig. e1 verso). Margins neatly ruled in pink-purple ink, perhaps at time of binding (c.1780-1820).

ISTC ir00294000. BMC I 244. Bod-Inc R-100. Arnold C. Klebs, “Incunabula scientifica et medica” (Osiris, 4 (1938)), 862.3 (p. 286).

This book may also be seen on the website of Maggs Bros., with whom we share it.