[Incunable] - Alberto Magno - Summa de Creaturis - 1498

ANGELS, DEMONS AND POSSIBLE WORLDS - SUMMA OF CREATURES: THE SECRET OF CREATION:
Extraordinary testimony of medieval cosmological and anthropological thought, this very rare first edition of Albertus Magnus' Summa de Creaturis represents one of the most ambitious attempts to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology. Printed in Venice in 1498 for Andrea Torresani da Asola, future father-in-law of Aldus Manutius and a central figure in Venetian typography, the work addresses the great questions of creation, the structure of the universe, the nature of angels, and the essence of man. Through an imposing speculative construction, Albertus Magnus analyzes matter, time, celestial motion, the faculties of the soul, the senses, dreams, the intellect, and free will, ultimately asking whether the existence of other worlds is possible. It is one of the most fascinating monuments of scholastic knowledge, printed in the very late 15th century, when the printing revolution was beginning to transform the circulation of ideas in Europe.
MARKET VALUE
Incunabula by Albertus Magnus occupy a prominent place in the international market for antique books. The early Venetian editions of his philosophical and theological works, especially when printed by prestigious workshops like that of Andrea Torresani, can fetch values between 8,000 and 20,000 euros, with higher realizations for complete, well-preserved copies with significant provenance. The absence of the first fascicle and the structural conditions of the copy affect valuation, but the rarity of the first edition of Summa de Creaturis keeps collectible and scholarly interest high. Estimated range: 4,000-9,000 euros.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
In-folio (302 x 200 mm). Two parts in one volume. Text in Gothic type set in two columns. Numerous marginal notes by an early hand between the first and second part. Time marks on the first two leaves. Final fascicle with a pale stain. Contemporary flexible parchment binding with a title hand-written on the back, with losses and wear. Despite the defects, the copy appears internally very fresh and genuine, preserving a notable historical and documentary charm. Leaves 195, [1]. The first of two fascicles containing the title and the Tabula articulorum is missing; the last blank leaf is present. In old books, with a centuries-long history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Prima [-secunda] pars summe Alberti Magni de quatuor coequeuis vna cum secunda eius que est de homine.
Venetijs, impressa impensis domini Andree Torresani de Asula, arte vero Simonis de Luere, 1498.
Albertus Magnus (ca. 1200-1280)

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Summa de Creaturis constitutes one of the most important works of Albertus Magnus's entire philosophical output and stands as a pinnacle of scholastic speculation in the thirteenth century. The author confronts the fundamental problem of the origin and structure of creation, developing a monumental synthesis between Aristotelian metaphysics, the Neoplatonist tradition, and Christian theology.

The first part, dedicated to the so-called quatuor coaequaevia, examines the realities created simultaneously at the beginning of time: the angelic world, prime matter, the heavens, and time itself. Albert investigates causality, the motion of the celestial spheres, the hierarchy of angels, and the fundamental principles of cosmic order.

The second part, De homine, is one of the most refined medieval analyses of human nature. It discusses the relationships between soul and body, the senses, memory, imagination, dreams, passions, intellect, and free will. Particularly fascinating are reflections on human knowledge and the theoretical possibility of other worlds, a theme that prefigures questions that would resurface in the following centuries.

The work represents a fundamental milestone in the development of European natural philosophy and testifies to the medieval attempt to build a unified vision of reality, in which cosmology, anthropology, and theology are integrated into a single system.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Albertus Magnus was probably born in Lauingen, Bavaria, around 1200 and died in Cologne in 1280. A Dominican, theologian, philosopher, scientist, and master of Thomas Aquinas, he was one of the most influential figures of the Latin Middle Ages. His wide range of interests earned him the title Doctor Universalis. He commented on Aristotle in a systematic way and contributed decisively to the introduction of Aristotelian thought into European universities. Canonized in 1931 and proclaimed Doctor of the Church, he is regarded as one of the founders of medieval scientific tradition.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
This 1498 edition constitutes the first and only incunable edition of the Summa de creaturis. It was produced in Venice for Andrea Torresani da Asula, one of the era's most important editors and book entrepreneurs. Torresani had acquired Nicolas Jenson's workshop and transformed his enterprise into one of the major European printing centers. A few years later he would enter solidly into the history of printing thanks to the collaboration and family ties with Aldus Manutius.

The actual printing was entrusted to Simone Bevilacqua, known as Simon de Luere, a printer active in late fifteenth-century Venice. The edition fits into the broader Venetian publishing program aimed at disseminating the great works of medieval scholasticism to universities, monasteries, and ecclesiastical libraries.

The rarity of this edition is confirmed by its presence in major international incunabula catalogues and by the relatively small number of copies preserved in public libraries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
ISTC ia00334000.
GW 779.
IGI 238.
Goff A-334.
Hain *569.
BMC V, p. 574.
Polain, Catalogue des livres imprimés au XVe siècle des bibliothèques de Belgique, voci Albertus Magnus.
Bod-inc A-141.
OCLC / WorldCat, records of Summa de creaturis, Venezia 1498.
ICCU / OPAC SBN, census of Italian copies.
Thorndike, A History of Magic and Experimental Science, vol. II, pp. 517-592.
Weisheipl, Albertus Magnus and the Sciences.
Mandonnet, Siger de Brabant et l'Averroïsme latin.
Étienne Gilson, La philosophie au Moyen Âge.
Friedberg, Die Theologie des Albertus Magnus.

GENRE
Cosmology – Philosophical anthropology – Latin Aristotelianism – Venetian incunabula.