Sermones Cantica canticorum – Gilbert de Holland – 1497 | Song of Solomon Commentary

Sermones sup[er] Cantica canticorum by Gilbert de Holland was printed in Strasbourg in 1497, as part of the Sermones Sancti Bernardi abbatis Clarevallis (sermons of Saint Bernard de Clairvaux). Gilbert, a relatively unknown Cistercian monk from Clairavux, extended Saint Bernard’s commentary and sermons on the Old Testament book Canticle of Canticles, better known as Song of Solomon. This incunable folio is beautifully bound; the second half of Saint Bernard’s Sermones; though it is textually complete in itself, lacking no leaves of text. The book was produced during Flach’s tenure as a key printer in Strasbourg’s incunabula era.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Sermones Gilberti sup[er] Cantica canticorum
• Author(s): Gilbert de Holland
• Publisher: Strasbourg (Argentine): Per Martinum Flach inibi conciuem
• Edition: First edition, 1497
• Format: Folio
• Binding: Modern leather, gilt tooled design on boards
• Size:  12 x 8.5 in (30.5 x 21.6 cm)
• Collation: [et]⁴ A⁸ B-I⁶ K-L⁸
  • (wanting original L8, blank; otherwise complete)
• Contents Include:
  • 47 sermons extending Bernard of Clairvau’s commentary on Song of Songs
• Reference(s): Goff B430*; GW 3937; USTC 743405

Condition:

Fine. Bound in modern leather with gilt tooling. The text block is firm, with crisp impressions and wide margins. Final blank leaf (L8) is absent. Internal contents are clean and complete.

Why Collect This?

• Printed incunable continuation of Bernard of Clairvaux’s sermons

• Issued by Martin Flach, a principal Strasbourg printer

• Preserved in a finely executed modern leather binding
• Important Cistercian theological material from the incunabula period

Item Number: #29055