Incipit liber primus Iohannis Gerson cancellarii parisiensis. De imitatione Christi [et] de contemptu o[mn]i[u]m vanitatum mundi
Publisher: Johann Higman, for Enguilbert, Geoffroy, and Jean de Marnef
Published: 1489
Place of publication: Paris
Language: lat
Number of pages: 224
Subjects: Meditations; Early works to 1800; Christian life; Spiritual life; Catholic Church
Other titles: De imitatione Christi et de contemptu omnium vanitatum mundi
Work titles: Imitatio Christi 1489
Notes: Author now known to be Thomas à Kempis; see J.E. Walsh, "Attributions in a manuscript of Imitatio Christi" in The Marks in the fields: essays on the uses of manuscripts (Houghton Library exhibition catalogue, 1992, p. 62-65).

Title from incipit on leaf a1r.

Colophon (leaf o8r): imp[re]ssus parisius p[er] Higma[n] almanu[m]. In vico clausi brunelli ad int[er]signiu[m] leonu[m] prope scolas decretorum. Anno d[omi]ni millesimo quadringentesimo octuagesimo nono die vero decima octaua Ianuarii.

Woodcut device of E., J., and G. de Marnef on leaf o8v. In some copies, the device is absent; cf. BM 15th cent.

Initial spaces, with guide-letters.

"De meditatione cordis": leaves n5r-o4v.

Hain-Copinger, 9097

Proctor, 8129

Goff, I-20

BM 15th cent., VIII, 131 (IA.40114)

ISTC (CD-ROM, 1998 ed.), ii00020000

Walsh, J.E. 15th cent. printed books, 3664.

Gift; James Byrne; 22 November 1921; C 803.41.

Contemporary ms. ownership notation on o8v, "Harditus Porteau."

From the library of W.A. Copinger, with his bookplate.

With frequent contemporary ms. annotations (cropped).

Initials added in red.

Bound in 19th-century paste-paper boards.