- JOHANNES BALBUS. CATHOLICON. Mainz: [Johann Gutenberg, first impression], 1460
- Collections:
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- Incunabula at Princeton
- In Principio
- Catholicon Press grouping
- Treasures of Rare Book Division
- Curatorial Note:
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- The Catholicon is a Latin dictionary with grammar compiled by a Genoese Dominican, Johannes Balbus, who dated the completion of his work 7 March 1286. Almost one-third longer than the Latin Bible, it remained the standard Latin dictionary until the 16th century. The first edition has, like the Gutenberg Bible, separate issues on paper and, more expensively, on vellum. Its distinguishing feature is that the first line-pair on the first page, giving the work’s title, is printed in red. The anonymous colophon praises God, “who often reveals to the lowly what he conceals from the wise.” This and other pious elements in the colophon have been taken to express the modest mind of Johann Gutenberg, who treats the discovery of typography as a divine gift. This contrasts with the pride of Fust and Schoeffer, who in the colophon of the 1457 Psalter put forth their names prominently. Bridwell Library Special Collections, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.
- Identifier:
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- ark:/88435/db78th50n
- Edm rights:
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- No Known Copyright
- Range label:
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- Logical