[Determinationes magistrales contra conclusions Joannis Pici Mirandulae].

Folio: [117 (of 120)] ff., 42 ll. (lacking initial and final blank, f. a2 is a fascimile on modern vellum; some lvs yellowed, single wormholes in top fore-edge corner of 1st ff.).

Contemporary binding : embossed brown calf over wood, covers with small circular ornaments or buds within rectangular ornamental frames and blind-ruled borders, metal centre and corner pieces, gauffered spine on 4 raised bands, edges bevelled inside (rebacked, tiny wormholes in front cover, remains of 4 catches, nice Italian binding). Excellent copy.

Third recorded copy on vellum (2: BL London, Louviers) of this rare and important Roman incunable. P. Garsias (1440-1505), bishop of Ales (and from 1490 of Barcelona), was appointed by Innocent VIII (Pope 1484-1492) member of the committee of inquiry to investigate the arguments proposed by the Italian humanist philosopher G. Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) in his “Apologia conclusionum suorum” (Naples 1487). Garsias’ treatise not only criticizes Pico, but also attacks the commonly accepted scholastic views of William of Ockham (1287-1347). Garsias ended his career as Vatican librarian of Alexander VI (Pope 1492-1503). Decoration : 12 ff. with a gilt coloured penwork initial extending along the inner margin and half of the top and bottom margin, ending with blue, pink, and green flowery ornaments and gilt dots; 72 three-line initials in red and blue (or violet-pink) with penwork occasionally extending into the margin; some rubrication. On r4v a contemporary pen note reference to Garsias as bishop of Barcelona. Ref. ISTC ig00095000.- GW 10549.- Goff G-95.- Polain 1553.- IDL 1897.- BMC IV:110.- BSB-Ink G-46.- Not in CIBN. L. Bianchi, “Pierre Garsias, adversaire de Jean Pic de la Mirandole, entre nominalisme et via communis”, in Archives d’histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Âge, 74 (2007) 85-108. Provenance : [Georges Petit].