Francis Sylvius - Opera Omnia - 1726

Rare complete edition in 6 volumes - RARITY!

Francisci Sylvii Opera Omnia – Venice 1726

The six-volume Venetian edition of the Opera Omnia of Franciscus Sylvius a Brania Comitis (Ex Typographia Balleoniana, 1726) gathers the complete works of the Flemish Dominican theologian Franciscus Sylvius (1581–1649), who taught as professor and vice-chancellor at the University of Douai (Duacum) and was also a canon and dean of the collegiate church of St. Amatus. The theological core of the work consists of the Commentarii in totam primam partem S. Thomae Aquinatis – extensive commentaries on Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae – as well as exegetical writings on Holy Scripture, including commentaries on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Sylvius combines scholastic-dogmatic method with patristic learning: he consistently strives for the literal-historical sense of Scripture, drawing on the Church Fathers and various manuscript variants, without neglecting the mystical-spiritual meaning. The sixth volume, containing the Bible commentaries, was edited and commented posthumously by Norbert d'Elbecque OP. The present edition of Typographia Balleoniana in Venice is considered an editio novissima, i.e., the most current and improved complete edition of its time, which made Sylvius’ work accessible to a broad European scholarly audience in the early 18th century.

Folio, 34x24.5 cm. 6 volumes in parchment bindings with dark brown spine labels. Bindings somewhat worn; inner pages slightly browned; occasional notes in an old handwriting. Overall very well preserved, a highly collectible complete edition – in its entirety rarely found on the market."