AUGUSTIN Saint [Sermones ad heremitas]. Sermoni volgari del Venera[n]do doctore Sa[n]cto & Aurelio Augustino: padre della regola Heremitana, molto devoti & spirituali ad acquistare la gloria del paradiso.

Goff, A-1323 ; Sander, 689 ; IGI, 1042 ; BMC, VII, 1209 ; GW, 3011 ; Kristeller, 11a.

Long attributed to Saint Augustine, these eighteen sermons on contemplation and asceticism are here in the famous Italian translation by Agostino da Scarperia (14th century), doctor of the Sorbonne and one of the first theologians of the Studio Fiorentino, university founded in 1348.

 Its Italian version of Augustine’s sermons are considered to be one of the founding texts of vernacular prose literature. This elegant, carefully printed booklet – which Goff dated around 1500 and attributed to the presses of Lorenzo Morgiani and Johannes Petri – is illustrated by a large wood cut on the on the title page depicting Saint Augustine in his scriptorium. 

Ornate initials illustrate the text. 

A very uncommon book: the British Library catalogue lists only ten copies, including one in France (Paris Mazarine), 4 in the United States (Boston MFA, Chapel Hill NC, New Haven Beinecke Library, Villanova), and only two in Italy (Chiavari and Bologna). 

Excellent copy, unwashed and with good margins. Some minor spots, small repair in the margin of the title.