Ad fratres Carthusiae: sacrae conciones.
Bibaucus, Guilielmus (Willem Bibaut); Hess, Jodocus
Erfurt Melchior Sachse the Elder 1539
Hardcover 8vo 8" - 9" tall First edition of a very uncommon early Carthusian German woodcut book, edited by Jodocus Hessus, It contains two
portraits of the Carthusian Bibaut. The other 4 full-page illustrations represent the crucifixion, “ecce homo”, and
Christ crowned with thorns, all by an anonymous German artist (they are sometimes attributed to Hans Brosamer). The
book is a collection of sermons by Bibaut, a Carthusian prior-general (d.1535), edited by Hess, with a selection of
sermons by him and his poem on the founding of the Carthusian order.This handsome post-incunable is in good
antiquarian condition. Small 4to. 206 leaves. In later half calf with morocco spine label, marbled boards and newer
marbled endpapers. Some mild wear and scuffing to the leather and marbled paper. Interior has bookplate indicating
that the book was owned by Charles H. Hackley, philanthropist of Muskegon, Michigan, before it was donated to the
library he founded there that bears his name. Contents are toned throughout, with some occasional thumbing and
contemporary marginalia. A few quires are quite browned. Red title page, early headings in red as well. Occasional
light humidity staining. The next to the last leaf (with illustration on verso) has a clean tear that has been
expertly and archivally repaired as well as an old repair in the margin just touching the edge of the illustration.
The first plate showing Bibaut has library stamps at top and bottom in the margins. The Ecce Homo plate of Christ has
early dark yellow to the frame and the hammer. In addition to the illustrations, there is a fine half title-border to
the second part of the book (with the second portrait of Hess) at leaf e3v. The woodcut on the last leaf has been cut
out then remounted with some damage to the frame, especially in the upper left corner, some early red stipplework on
this plate, the verso has some browning due to the mounting glue. Nicely printed in a very readable typeface, handsome
and charming historiated initials throughout. Solidly bound. Bibaut (Bibaucus) was born about 1475 in Flanders and
educated at Louvain. He taught at Ghent until 1499 when he entered the Carthusian monastery there. He held various
offices until 1521 when he was elected prior-general of the entire Carthusian order. Interestingly, there is little in
modern scholarship on the author, Prior General Willem Bibaut (Bibaucus), or his writings. This is surprising given
the challenges the Carthusians faced under his successful tenure -- among them the Ottoman threat in the east, the
rise of Protestantism, the Saxon peasant rebellion and the monumental publication of the complete works of Denys the
Carthusian. The work contains two portraits of Bibaut (from the same block) wearing the Carthusian habit and carrying
a book.



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