De Persecvtione Piorvm…Exiliis Facinorosorvm…Fvga Ministrorvm Versi.
Frankfurt am Main, G. Rabe (Corvinus) for J. Tröster 1580.
8vo (160 x 95 mm.). 368, [8]p.
CONTEMPORARY LEIPZIG BLIND-DECORATED PIGSKIN BY FABIAN KLEINSCHMIDT, outer border of blind rules and a medallion bust portrait and floral roll (EBDB r001352), central panel stamps of Christ’s Baptism (front, EBDB p002819) and the Annunciation (rear, p002820), old manuscript spine labels.
With: Bolsec, Jérôme-Hermes.
De Ioannis Calvini…Vita, Moribvs, rebus gestis, studijs, ac denique morte Historia. Cologne, L. Alectorius and the Heirs of J. Soter 1580. 8vo. 147 [r. 143]p. THREE-QUARTER-PAGE MEDALLION BUST PORTRAIT OF JEAN CALVIN.
Ad I-II: Both rigid, vehement and self-righteous, the ultra-Lutheran, Wigand, and the viciously Catholic-Protestant-Catholic, Bolsec, lay out their intolerance in these publications, the first in exclusionary doctrine, the second in invective biography. A contemporary owner marked the front flyleaf prohibited book in manuscript.
Ad I: Only Edition. Wigand debates and defines martyrdom, persecution, exile and apostasy — from St. Stephen’s stoning in the first century through Luther’s excommunication. “Whoever dies for another belief is a pseudomartyr, the devil’s martyr” (Kolb). Suffering blind fanaticism, Wigand’s views were shaped by his own exile and betrayal and what he saw as the catastrophic willingness of other reformers, including his former teacher Melanchthon, to compromise. He significantly contributed to German ecclesiastical history, as a compiler of the Magdeburg Centuries. A good copy.
¶Kolb, “From Hymn to History of Dogma: Lutheran Martyrology in the Reformation Era” in More Than a Memory ed. Leemans 295-314; VD 16 W 2822.
Ad II: First Latin Edition, ?translated by the Scotsman, James Laing (1502-94) “a violent enemy of the Reformation…[known for] his very abusive…personal attacks” (DNB). Originally written in French to counter de Bèze’s hagiographic life of Calvin, Bolsec’s scathing account presents Calvin as “bloodthirsty and malicious, a compulsive and predatory bisexual” (Mullet). Once an ally of, then imprisoned by, his subject, Bolsec cites eyewitnesses and documents in Calvin’s hand to prove he was convicted of sodomy, philandered with married women and died abjuring his own beliefs. This polemic first appeared in 1577, then Latin (here), German (1580), Dutch (1581) and Polish (1583). An odd feature is the presence of the fine woodcut portrait of the vilified Calvin, which may here be used for the first time. It was not in the earlier printing. Many lower edges uncut.
¶Mullett, John Calvin 244-6; Erichson, Bibliotheca calviniana 117,531; VD 16 B 6509.
Price: $3,650.00