Martinus Gerberts - Vetus Liturgia Alemannica - 1776

FIRST EDITION - THE LOST SACRED WORLD OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE — ELEVEN ENGRAVED PLATES
A monumental work dedicated to the rediscovery of the rites, ceremonies and sacred objects of medieval Europe. Published in 1776 by the renowned Benedictine Martin Gerbert, the Vetus Liturgia Alemannica reconstructs the history of Christian liturgy through ancient manuscripts, ecclesiastical testimonies and precious engravings. The work includes eleven copper plates, six of them folding, dedicated also to chalices, vestments and religious artifacts. One of the great testimonies of eighteenth-century monastic scholarship, preserved in three parts bound into two imposing contemporaneous volumes.

ABSTRACT
First edition of Vetus Liturgia Alemannica by Martin Gerbert, published in 1776 at the printing press of the Benedictine abbey of San Biagio, in the Black Forest. It is a broad historical inquiry into the origins, evolution and material culture of Christian liturgy in the Germanic territories. Through the study of medieval manuscripts, ecclesiastical documents, chronicles and religious monuments, Gerbert reconstructs the ancient forms of worship, analyzing vestments, sacred vessels, sacraments, prayers, funeral ceremonies and local traditions. The work is organized into three parts bound in two quarto volumes and, according to the bibliographic description of the edition, is accompanied by a vignette engraved on the frontispiece, two engraved titles and eleven copper-engraved plates, six folding. An important monument of Benedictine historiography and studies on ancient Christian antiquities.

WHY TO BUY
First edition of 1776, printed at the prestigious Benedictine abbey of San Biagio.
Three parts preserved in two large volumes with contemporaneous half-leather bindings.
Illustrative apparatus of eleven copper-engraved plates, six folding, according to the editorial collation.
Fundamental work for the study of liturgy, sacred art and European medieval civilization.

MARKET VALUE
For the specimen presented here, an indicative auction value of €850–1,400 is offered.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
First edition. Two quarto volumes, containing three parts. Contemporary half-leather bindings with decorated paper covers, spines with raised bands and gold-tooled labels bearing the titles and parts indications in gold. Latin text with ornamental initials, typographic spurs, a vignette engraved on the frontispiece, two engraved title pages and eleven copper-engraved plates, six of which are folding, according to standard bibliographic collation.
Volume I: [6] unnumbered leaves, XL pages, [4] unnumbered leaves, 416 pages, [4] unnumbered leaves.
Volume II: [1] unnumbered leaf, pages [417]–[1048], [4] unnumbered leaves.
Total: XL + 1048 numbered pages + 19 unnumbered leaves, equal to 38 folios; in total 1126 leaves, excluding the engraved plates.
The bindings show signs of wear. The gold-tooled labels remain legible. Ancient paper location labels are present on the spine. The interiors show light browning, some foxing and scattered stains. Frontispieces bear ancient manuscript possession notes. Old books may present imperfections, stains, foxing and signs of use compatible with age. This listing contains AI Visuals. The original photographs document the actual condition of the item. The images are an integral part of the description.

FULL TITLES & AUTHORS
Vetus liturgia Alemannica disquisitionibus praeviis, notis, et observationibus illustrata, quam Sanctissimo D. N. Pio VI. D. D. D. Martinus Gerbertus, Monast. et Congreg. S. Blasii in Silva Nigra Abbas S. Q. R. I. P.
Pars prima. Pars secunda & tertia.
Martinus Gerbertus (Martin Gerbert, 1720–1793).
St. Blasien, Typis San-Blasianis, MDCCLXXVI (1776).

THE STORY
In the thick of European Enlightenment, Martin Gerbert undertook an ambitious reconstruction of the origins and development of Christian worship in the Germanic territories. His aim was not merely to describe the religious ceremonies of his own time, but to trace their roots through systematic examination of medieval manuscripts, writings of the Church Fathers, regional traditions and surviving monuments. The work addresses the spread of Christianity, the evolution of rites, places of worship, ecclesiastical garments, sacred vessels, administration of the sacraments and funeral ceremonies. Particularly fascinating is the attention given to the material objects of religion: medieval chalices, ceremonial footwear and other liturgical artifacts are reproduced by copper engravings, offering a visual testimony of European religious culture. The result is a work in which theology, history, archaeology and the study of the arts converge in one of the most important Benedictine scholarly enterprises of the eighteenth century.

THE AUTHOR
Martin Gerbert (1720–1793), Baron von Hornau, was a German Benedictine monk, theologian, historian and musicologist. He entered the Abbey of San Biagio in 1736 and became prince-abbot in 1764. Under his direction the monastery established itself as an important center of research and editorial production. Gerbert gained particular notoriety for studies on the history of sacred music and medieval musical notation, contributing decisively to the birth of modern historical musicology. Alongside, he deepened the history of ecclesiastical institutions, liturgical manuscripts and ancient Christian traditions, becoming one of the leading figures of XVIII-century Catholic erudition.

THE PRINTING
The first edition was printed in 1776 at the Benedictine typography of San Biagio, in the Black Forest, a center of book production closely connected to the monastery’s scholarly activity. The work comprises three parts, typically bound in two quarto volumes. The imposing typographic apparatus combines Latin text, historical notes, documentary references, analytical indices, decorated initials, a frontispiece vignette, two engraved titles and eleven copper-engraved plates, six of which are folding. The engravings reproduce objects and testimonies of medieval liturgy, visually complementing the author’s research. The work precedes the publication of Monumenta veteris liturgiae Alemannicae, appearing between 1777 and 1779, and testifies to the high technical and scientific standard reached by monastic typography.

RARITY
Important first edition of notable scholarly interest, present in major bibliographic repertoires and in the collections of historical institutions. It is not a common devotional text of the eighteenth century, but a vast documentary research on the origins of Christian liturgy and on medieval material culture. The size of the work, the richness of the scholarly apparatus and the engravings dedicated to sacred objects make it particularly appealing to collectors of medieval history, sacred art, Christian archaeology and Benedictine publications. Complete sets of the eleven plates are naturally preferable. The present lot preserves the three parts in the two contemporaneous bindings, subject to necessary material checks for completeness.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ebert, Allgemeines bibliographisches Lexikon, no. 8366.
Graesse, Trésor de livres rares et précieux, III, p. 57.
Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, VIII, entry Martin Gerbert.
Neue Deutsche Biographie, VI, entry Martin Gerbert.

PERCHÉ ABBIAMO SCELTO
We chose this work for its extraordinary ability to convey the complexity of the medieval religious world through documents, historical testimonies and depictions of sacred objects. The engravings dedicated to chalices, vestments and liturgical instruments transform an imposing scholarly inquiry into a fascinating visual repertoire of European Christian civilization. The first edition of 1776, printed at the renowned San Biagio Abbey, also represents a significant testimony of the great era of eighteenth-century monastic historiography. The two contemporaneous bindings, with their signs of time, complete the historical and bibliographic character of this important collection.

In old books, with a centuries-long history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. This listing contains AI Visuals. Refer to the original photographs to verify the object's actual condition. The images are an integral part of the description."}]}%