Augustine: De civitate dei cum commentario Thomae Waleys et Nicolai Trivet. [Strasbourg: Johann Mentelin, not after 1468].
Inc. Haun. 397 2º

Front cover	Back cover	Fol. 335v: Ownership note

This book contains an early edition of Saint Augustine’s famous work On the City of God from the 5th century. The binding, which is made of pigskin tooled in blind, is remarkable as it supplies information on the title and the owner as well as the bookbinder. On the front cover it says: Agustinus de ciuitate dei pertinet domino georgio ruch de gamundia (Belongs to Jörg Ruch of Gmünd (in Schwaben, Germany)). On the back cover it says: Per me iohannem richenbach capellanum in gÿslingen illigatus est anno 1470 (Bound in 1470 by me Johannes Richenbach curate in Geislingen). Richenbach is one of the most famous bookbinders of the 15th century.

On the last page (fol. 335v) below the printed text Ruch has made a note: Anno 1470. Nota quod anno domini 1469 proxima die post festum lucie emi istum librum Augustini pro nouem florenis de mane in stuba mea presente fratre meo magistro marco. Insuper ego georius ruch presbyter humilis proposui michi quod amplius velim contentari in libris quos habeo quia sufficientes habeo ad legendum pre tedio. O sancte augustine lux doctorum impetra michi adeo illuminationem intellectus mei. Amen (In 1469 I bought this book by Augustine for 9 florins with my brother Marcus present. In addition I have promised myself that I will be content with what books I already own, because they suffice to keep me from being bored. O holy Augustine light of the learned obtain for me enlightenment of my intellect. Amen).

Later the book was owned by the collector of books Georg Kloss of Frankfurt am Main and it was from his library that the Royal Library bought it in 1835.

38.7 x 27.5 cm.

© Det Kongelige Bibliotek 2003