In Padova i.e. Padua: Appresso Giuseppe Comino, 1744.
4to, 25cm, [12],[xiii-lxiii],430 i.e. 440p., untrimmed, attractive engraved title vignette of a gardener amongst Renaissance ruins digging potatoes with the Latin motto “quid ovid sub terra est in apricum proferet aetas”, various engraved initials, head & endpieces. 19th c. vellum with tree-calf style paper covered boards, red & black morocco labels (lower label a little rubbed).

Sole edition of this Italian life of the 12th century Cistercian French saint, Bernard of Clairvaux. Born into a wealthy family, Bernard was a bridging figure between the early and later Middle Ages in his attempts to bring older church ritual into a method of personal faith.

He joined the Cistercian order at the age of 22 and being of a singularly motivated personality and faith was quickly asked to form a new house with 12 monks. This he did at Clairvaux and his personal reputation and influence grew to the extent that 130 new monks were encouraged to join the community including his own father and all the male members of his family. He later sent missions from the monastery all over Europe in addition to close involvement in the second Crusade and in supporting the pope against interference by secular rulers. COPAC returns a sole copy at BL. A very good copy (several pages lacking lower blank tips or with small holes due to paper quality; light mark at head of two leaves from printing press soiling?). Small booksellers label “Scarpignato Libri Rari Roma”.

[Ref: 1738]