Sermones sancti Augustini – 1517 | Sermons of pseudo-Augustine, Venice post-Incunable

Sermones sancti Augustini ad heremitas is a rare 1517 Venetian printing of sermons written with the intention of growing Augustinian monastics in the 12^th through 14^th-centuries. This edition published by Sessa and Ravani and includes sermons directed at hermits, priests, and other churchmen. Notable sermons topics found in this edition include peace, silence, on obedience, prayer and confession, and even “De genere monachorum Aegyptiorum”, the way of life of Egyptian monks!

It is worth noting, however, that the USTC does still recognize Saint Augustine as the author of this work, rather that suggesting a 12^th-14^th-century forgery.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Sermones sancti Augustini ad heremitas [et] no[n]nulli ad sacerdotes suos [et] ad aliquos alios
• Author(s): pseudo-Saint Augustine
• Publisher: Venezia, per Melchiorre I Sessa & Pietro Ravani
• Colophon:  Impressum Venetiis p[er] Merchiorem [sic] Sessam & Petrum de Rauannis socios, [Venice], Anno d[omi]ni 1517. Die. 26. Augusti
• Edition: 1517
• Format: (16mo), single volume
• Binding: Softcover
• Size:  6 in x 4.25 in (15.2 x 10.8 cm)
• Collation: unnumbered pages
  • Wanting title page
  • Signatures: A–R⁸ (R8 blank)
• Illustrations: Woodcut portrait of Augustine (A2); printer’s device (R6)
• Contents Include:
  • On the obligation of fasting
  • On justice and mercy
  • On love as the heart of Christian faith
  • On obedience and humility
  • On vanity of the world
  • De genere monachorum Aegyptiorum

Condition:

Good. Bound in soft covers with handwritten notes across both surfaces. The binding and text block are tight and secure. The title page is lacking, but the remainder is present. Pages show expected age with stable legibility.

Why Collect This?

• Early sixteenth-century Venetian printing
• Includes sermons central to Augustinian teaching
• Woodcut portrait and printer’s device present

Item Number: # 29412