A scarce mid 16th century edition of Helding’s Postilla, that is; preaching and interpretation according to Catholic teaching, of all the Sunday Gospels: with some of the festivals for the month. An extended second edition of this collection of sermons from the time of the Bishop of Merseburg in Mainz, first published and edited by Philipp Agricola in 1565. Of Helding, he was born in Langenenslingen near Riedlingen. He had a rich history of positions, first being a schoolteacher in Mainz, in 1531, then becoming rector of the Mainz Cathedral School, and then consecrated bishop of Sidon in 1538. In 1545 he even took part in the opening of the Council of Trent and became Bishop of Merseburg in 1550. Finally, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I appointed him President of the Imperial Chamber Court in Speyer in 1558, and then President of the Imperial Court Council in Vienna in 1561. Since then, he has taken a prominent place among the Catholic preachers of the 16th century, with his sermons widely circulated, especially those of the Holy Mass.

The title has been printed in red and black, and there are two large woodcut coats of arms, as well as four additional woodcut portraits, one large woodcut of the Crucifixion, and 78 large in-text woodcuts, the latter all with ornamental frames.

This volume has been bound in blind tooled pigskin over wooden boards, with roll stamped designs. One clasp is lacking.

USTC records 10 existing copies of this edition in libraries.

Four parts in one pigskin bound volume in folio, (6)+CLXV+XXXIX+(5)+CCXXVII+(1)+LX leaves

This volume is in fair shape, with wear and staining to the binding, and some pigskin lacking to the rear. The first leaf is near detached, and the second leaf is fully detached, with some damage to the first handful of leaves. There is foxing and staining throughout, and mold spores affecting several pages.