Arbor vitae crucifixae Jesu Christi

12th March 1485

Shoults (Special Collections) Itc 1485 U

HC 4551*; BMC V 361; Goff U55; Kaplan 478; ISTC iu00055000

Venice: Andreas de Bonetis
The first book connected with Andreas de Bonetis is the Romuleius of 14 November 1482; the last authenticated being Constitutiones Clementinae, 13 June 1486.

Quarter bound red calf over green paper boards. Spine title reads: De Casali/ Arbor/ Vitae.

Incipit Prologus (f.1a), binding, bibliographical note on front endpaper, last page with colophon, detail of colophon.

First and only edition of this infamous book. Ubertino of Casale (1259-c. 1330) was leader of the Spirituals and a man who engaged in many controversies. 'Being a man of genius, but of an eccentric and restless character, he soon became the leader of the famous Spirituals in Tuscany, professed strange ideas regarding evangelical and Franciscan poverty, and attacked the government of the order. His chief work is Arbor vitae crucifixae Jesu Christi. This work is a collection of allegorical, theological, and political theories regarding civil society and the Church of those days, and expounds also his ideal of the near future. In this work he criticises everything and everyone, the popes and the Church, especially for pretended abuses of riches in the ecclesiastical and civil states, and finally the Franciscan Order for not practising the extremest poverty. In the same work (book I, chap. iv) is the first mention of the legend of the resurrection of St. Francis' (Catholic Encyclopedia, XV, p. 116). Ubertino was accused of heresy in 1325 and was excommunicated by John XXII. Note attached to front endpaper pointing out rarity of this edition, and mentioning the catalogue of Magliabeechiana.

Paper. 250 leaves; 285 x 200 mm (fol.).
Roman type. Double columns.
F.1a: [in caps] 'Incipit prologus in librum qvi intitulatur arbor vite crucifixe Iesu. Et dicitur opus Ubertini de Casali.
F.248b Colophon: 'Liber qui intitulatur Arbor uite crucifixe Iesu deuotissimi fratris Vbertini de Casali ordinis minoru felicit' explicit. Impressus Venetiis p. Andrea de Bonettis de Papia. Anno. M.CCCC.LXXXV. Die. Xii. Martii. Ioane Mocenico indyto principe regnante.'
Capital spaces and guide letters uncoloured.
Not rubricated.

1. Canon William Ardene Shoults
2. Selwyn College; Otago University Library