Giovanni Marchesini - Mammotrectus super Bibliam - 1492

Contextualization of the work
The Mammotrectus super Bibliam is one of the best-known late medieval study tools intended for clergy and preachers: a repertory that accompanies the reading of Scripture by providing linguistic, etymological, and practical explanations of difficult words, proper names, liturgical uses, and biblical references. Printed in Venice in 1492, this exemplar belongs to the group of incunabula – books printed before 1500 – and documents the transition from manuscript culture to Italian humanistic typography.
Historical and cultural context of the work
Composed in the 14th century by Giovanni Marchesini (Giovanni da Reggio), the Mammotrectus was created to meet the concrete needs of the clergy: to understand biblical Latin, to decipher abbreviations and rare terms, and to prepare homilies and readings. In the fifteenth century the work enjoyed enormous circulation and became a true “bench manual,” reprinted in many European cities. The printed diffusion in the Venetian area testifies to the Serenissima’s role as a primary center of religious and scholastic publishing.
Content and structure
The text is organized as a commentary/compendium “super Bibliam” with entries and glosses that clarify vocabulary and biblical passages; the two-column layout facilitates quick consultation. From the photographs one notes numerous drop capitals and woodcut initials, as well as sections dedicated to terms and names (also in list form), typical of lexical repertoires for everyday use.
The author
Giovanni Marchesini (died circa 1297/1301), a Franciscan active between Emilia and Veneto, is best known for his work as a compiler and teacher. The Mammotrectus, more than a modernly “original” work, is a concentration of exegetical and grammatical tradition: precisely for this reason it became fundamental in the training of late medieval clergy and remained in use for centuries.
Edition
Place of printing: Venice.
Printer/Publisher: Bernardinus Locatellus, for Octavianus Scotus.
Year: 1492.
This Venetian edition, in Gothic type and two-column formatting, is representative of incunabular production intended for study: sturdy, functional, designed for a professional audience (preachers, convents, schools).
Bibliographic description
Author: Johannes Marchesinus (Giovanni Marchesini).
Title: Mammotrectus super Bibliam.
Place of printing: Venice.
Publisher/Printer: B. Locatelli for O. Scotus.
Year: 1492.
Format: In 8°.
Language: Latin.
Leaves: ca. 344; no blank leaf at the end.
Detailed collation: except for the first blank leaf, the copy is complete.
Title-page and iconographic apparatus
A true modern title page is absent: the opening leads directly to the index visible in the third photograph. Present are numerous Gothic initials on a black background and decorative drop capitals.
Binding
Ancient parchment binding contemporary with the book, with calligraphic/antique titles on the spine. Overall solid, with natural signs of use; minor wear to corners and bottom/spine.
State of conservation
Overall genuine and well preserved for an incunabulum intended for study. Leaves fresh but with some foxing and a humidity halo along the lower margin on some sheets, mainly in the final section. Some ancient handwritten annotations are present (ownership notes/bibliographic references, visible in the photos). Completeness: first blank leaf missing;
Collecting interest
Venetian incunabulum of 1492, printed for Octavianus Scotus: a name of primary importance in late 15th‑century publishing. Mammotrectus is a sought-after title because it represents a cornerstone of medieval scholastic culture and of the history of printed biblical exegesis. Copy in ancient parchment, with a printer’s mark and rich initial apparatus: historically highly prized by incunabula collectors, by the history of Venetian typography, and by medieval theology/philology books.