Justin Croft Antiquarian Books : WYCLIF [WYCLIFFE], John. - Dialogorum libri quatuor, quorum primus divinitatem et ideas tractat. Secundus universarum rerum creationem complectitu...

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WYCLIF [WYCLIFFE], John. Dialogorum libri quatuor, quorum primus divinitatem et ideas tractat. Secundus universarum rerum creationem complectitur. Tertius de virtutibus vitiisque ipsis contrariis copiosissime loquitur. Quartus Romanae Ecclesiae sacramenta, eius pestiferam dotationem, antichristi regnum, fratrum fraudulentam originem atque forum hypocrysim, variaque nostro aevo scitu dignissima, graphice perstringit. Quae ut essent invenu facilia, singulorum librorum, tum caput, tum capitis summam indice praenotavimus. Auctus est denique liber, catalogo praecipuorum de Wiclefo nostro scriptorum, quem vita ex optimis fontibus, Germanico idiomate depicta, sequitur. Frankfurt and Leipzig: Io. Gottl. Vierlingii, 1753.

pp. [viii], 318. [bound with:] WIRTH, Ludwig Philipp. D. Iohannes Wiclefii... Nachrichten von seinem Leben, Lehrsätzen und Schriften. Aus denen bewährtesten Urkunden und Schriftstellern gezogen und entworfen. Bayreuth and Hof: Bey Johann Gottlieb Vierling, 1754 pp. [vi], 68, plus fine engraved portrait. 4to (212 × 170 mm) Printed bibliographic notes pasted to front pastedown, ownership inscription to front endpaper. Contemporary vellum, with manuscript black ink lettering to spine. Soiled and covers very slightly bowed, trace of tape and remains of library label at bottom of spine. Bookplate: “Bequeathed to the Bishopric of Cornwall, by the Rev. Franke Parker, M.A., Rector of Luffincott, Devon, 1883.” A good copy.

A very uncommon printing of the four books of the Dialogus, Wycliffe’s principal doctrinal work. It was first printed during the Reformation in 1525 and copies of this first edition are exceedingly rare following its suppression by the court of Rome. The work consists of four dialogues on church doctrine and attacks what Wycliffe saw as an imperialised papacy and also its supporters. Wycliffe (d. 1384) was responsible for the first complete translation of the Bible into English and as the founder of the Lollard movement, is considered a forefather of the Protestant Reformation. This copy includes a separately issued life of Wycliffe with a valuable bibliographical catalogue and fine engraved portrait.

£500.00 (equal to approx. US$791.74* or €618.35* for 22 May 2012)

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