Hermes Trismegistus: De potestate et sapientia Dei.

Translated by Marsilius Ficinus.

Treviso:  Gerardus de  Lisa, de Flandria, 18 Dec. 1471.
8vo.   [1-4¹⁰ 5-6⁸].   [56] leaves.
ISTC ih00077000;  GW 12310;  Goff H77;  BMC VI 883 (IA. 28312), XII 64 (IA. 28311);  Bod-inc H-049;  CIBN H-45.

Two copies held by the University of Glasgow.

Copy 1

GIP number:	H7/1
Shelf-mark:	Sp Coll Ferguson An-x.18 (see main library entry for this item)
Variant:	1/1v, line 16: ‘FRAH.’ as GW, not ‘FRAN.’ as BMC.
Note:	Quires 3 and 4 transposed.
Provenance:	H.T.L. (16th/17th century):  on 1/1v initials “.H..T..L.” in ink within three concentric ink circles formed by a compass, repeated on 6/8v (f. 56v);  a set of similar concentric ink circles appears on the rear free endpaper but without the initials. John Ferguson (1837-1916), Professor of Chemistry, University of Glasgow:  source unknown;  Ferguson’s acquisition date in pencil on 1/1r “JF 4 VI 83”. University of Glasgow:  Ferguson collection purchase, 1921.
Binding:	Italy(?), 16th-century limp parchment, with remains of two ties;  “Mercurius Trismegistus” written in ink in a 16th-century hand on front cover;  remains of manuscript title on spine;  outer leaves of each quire are guarded with thin parchment strips with occasional faded remnants of script visible.   Size:  212 x 150 mm.
Leaf size:	210 x 145 mm.
Annotations:	Numerous marginal annotations in a 16th-century hand;  early manuscript signatures "a"-"f".
Decoration:	On 1/2r a four-line initial “E” is supplied in gold within a square crimson ground filled with white-vine decoration;  from the initial there extends into the inner margin a border of a blue ground filled with white-vine decoration;  initial, square ground and border edged in black.   On 1/5r a four-line initial “C” supplied in gold within a square crimson ground with white-vine decoration;  initial and square ground edged in black.   Other initials supplied in red or blue.
Imperfections:	Approximately 2.5 cm. excised from lower margin of 1/1.

 

Copy 2

GIP number:	H7/2
Shelf-mark:	Sp Coll BD7-f.11 (see main library entry for this item)
Variant:	1/1v, line 16: ‘FRAH.’ as GW, not ‘FRAN.’ as BMC.
Provenance:	E. Piper (fl. 1843), bookseller. William Euing (1788-1874), insurance broker, Glasgow:  purchased from Piper, Dec. 1843;  Euing’s pencil note on rear free endpaper "12/43 Piper" and his initials and early inventory number “WE/25” on front free endpaper;  a later inventory number "47" on front free endpaper. University of Glasgow:  presented by Euing in 1872 according to University Library bookplate on front pastedown (an earlier bookplate on the front pastedown has been removed).
Binding:	19th-century calf;  covers decorated with a blind-tooled border;  blind-tooled spine with gilt titles;  dark green endpapers;  gilt-edged leaves;  pale blue silk bookmark;  signs of a book-plate removed from front pastedown.  Size:  193 x 140 mm.
Leaf size:	184 x 135 mm.
Annotations:	Frequent marginal annotations in a 16th-century hand;  1/5-6/8 (ff. 5-56) foliated “1”-“52”;  unread, faded and partially erased inscription on 1/1r.
Decoration:	Four-line initial “C” on 1/5r supplied in green on a square ground of red pen-work;  four-line initial “Q” on 3/5r (f. 25r) supplied in blue on a square ground of red pen-work.
Imperfections:	Wanting 1/2-4.