The first edition of the works of 12th century Abbot Peter Abelard and his lover, the Abbess Heloise. Included are their romantic letters and Peter's autobiographical work 'Historia Calamitatum'. Despite the fact that the romance between Abelard and Heloise was only preserved in oral tradition and manuscript form until this publication, that did not prevent their relationship from becoming a popular theme in medieval literature. The story provided material for works such as the 'Romance of the Rose' and Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. Another important correspondence included in the work is Heloise's 'Problemata', in which questions are proposed by Heloise for Abelard's resolution. The appendix includes a commentary on the 'Historia Calamitatum'. Two issues appeared this year - one with a 'Praefactio Apologetica' by Franciscus Amboesius and another with different preliminary matter under the name of Andre Duchesne. Our copy includes the former. Very rare on the marketplace - there are no records of this book having come up at auction in the last forty years. 4to (24.5 x 18.5cm), [liv], 1197pp., [xv]. Occasional foxing and/or light browning throughout. Rebacked preserving original spine, some light wear to calf binding.