De Civitate Dei
(Between heaven and earth, Trans.)
Aurelius Augustinus
New edition of one of the most influential and popular works of the fifteenth century. The original 15th-century leather binding is very similar to that of a book owned by the Vienna National Library Vienna attributed by historian Ilse Schunke to a bookbinder called "Rosettenmeister".
LATIN LANGUAGE
EXTREMELY RARE
INCUNABULA
Publisher: Bonetus Locatellus for Octavianus Scotus, Venice
Copyright: 1486
--CONDITION--
This book is in good condition. Bound in Leather with metal clasps. RARE INCUNABULA. Quarto. Blind-tooled leather over wooden boards with two brass bosses and leather clasps with working catches. Leather is worn along the outer hinges, edges, and corners. Three raised bands on the spine. There is an ex-libris belonging to the library of Swedish book collector Victor Von Stedingk on the front pastedown. Front pastedown and endpapers have a series of bookseller notes. The text block shows has moisture stains in various places. Handwritten margin notes throughout the book with some soiling along page edges. This is an antiquarian book that has had a 530+ year journey through time. Please take a look at the pictures to ascertain the condition and state of this book. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Please contact us about payment/escrow options before making a purchase. This book will be delivered within 4 weeks of payment clearing. 208 pages.
--ABOUT THIS BOOK--
De Civitate Dei is a historical-philosophical writing in which Augustine views the history of the world as a battle between those who believe in the love of God and those who focus on earthly matters. The title of the work refers to the two kinds of human communities or cities that Augustine distinguishes: an earthly city (civitas terrena) and a heavenly city (civitas caelestis). The earthly city represents vanity and power. The city of God is a place where the faithful can form a relationship with God and focus on spiritual power which in the end is stronger and more important than worldly power. Both cities are followed in their origin, progress, and ending.
The City of God examines paganism and the struggle between faith and unbelief. It guided medieval mystics and anchored both the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. It remains vital in Christian thought today.
--ABOUT THE AUTHOR--
Augustine of Hippo, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis (13 November 354 - 28 August 430) also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings influenced the development of Western philosophy and Western Christianity, and he is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period. His many important works include The City of God, On Christian Doctrine, and Confessions.
According to his contemporary, Jerome, Augustine "established anew the ancient Faith". In his youth he was drawn to the eclectic (and now extinct) Manichaean faith, and later to the Hellenistic philosophy/religion of Neoplatonism. After his conversion to Christianity and baptism in 386, Augustine developed his own approach to philosophy and theology, accommodating a variety of methods and perspectives. Believing the grace of Christ was indispensable to human freedom, he helped formulate the doctrine of original sin and made significant contributions to the development of just war theory. When the Western Roman Empire began to disintegrate, Augustine imagined the Church as a spiritual City of God, distinct from the material Earthly City. His thoughts profoundly influenced the medieval worldview. The segment of the Church that adhered to the concept of the Trinity as defined by the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Constantinople closely identified with Augustine's On the Trinity.
Augustine is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church and the patron of the Augustinians.
--ABOUT THE PRINTERS--
Bonetus Locatellus was the second most prolific Venetian printer of the 15th Century, who in his fourteen-year career printed a total of 152 editions. This large output was possible because almost all of his work was done for Ottaviano Scoto, one of the largest publishers of his day. Ottaviano Scoto headed a distinguished family of Venetian printers. Born of a noble family of Monza, he came to Venice at the age of 35 and operated a press there between 1479 and 1484. He continued as an editor until 1499 whereupon his heirs, including his brothers and nephews, undertook their own activity (1499-1532).
Item Dimensions: 10.0 inches x 7.0 inches
LOC ITA