Memorabilia de templo, ac turri ad S. Stephanum Viennae Austriae. Fide summa e veteribus documentis eruta laureatis honoribus….
8vo (16 x 9 cm). [4] (including title-page), 142, [2] pp., with two folding plates depicting the exterior and architectural plan of St. Stephen’s. Toning to both plates and some leaves. Bound in contemporary sheep, with spine stamped into compartments; corners of covers worn, joints a bit weak, manuscript notes scratched from title-page. Generally good. First edition of the first printed work devoted to the Cathedral of St. Stephen, the most historically important medieval building in Vienna. St. Stephen’s Cathedral had its origins as a Roman basilica (dedicated in 1147). Repeatedly burnt and rebuilt, it was enlarged in the 14th century by Duke Rudolf IV (1358-65), who also began the tradition of interring Habsburg monarchs in the cathedral’s crypt. This illustrated work provides a detailed history of the cathedral as well as a minute description of its interior, with transcriptions of the Latin plaques and explanations of their origin. The first plate, an exterior view of the cathedral, is signed by Carl Aigen and engraved by J. H. Märtin. The second, a floor plan, is unsigned; both were reused for the 1722 German edition. One chapter discusses the church tower (137 m), another describes a tower that was planned but not built. Choler also enumerates the sacred treasures housed within the church, devoting a chapter to the silver and gold vessels, and a second to the paintings, altars and organ. The author, Ignatius Choler (i.e., Ignaz Koller), was a Jesuit professor of theology, polemics, philosophy and mathematics at the University of Vienna, later General Prefect of Studies and confessor to Emperor Charles VI. A German edition of the work, Außerlesene Denckwürdigkeiten von der sowohl uralten als kunstreichen St. Stephans Dom-Kirchen, was printed by Heyinger in 1722, the same year the Diocese of Vienna was raised to the rank of archdiocese by Pope Innocent XIII at the request of Emperor Charles VI.
* Mayer 1106; Backer-Somervogel.II.1154; Gugitz.III.14197; “Ignaz Koller”, History of the University of Vienna (https://geschichte.univie.ac.at/en/persons/ignaz-koller).
Price: $1,650.00