Duo volumina Epistolarum obscurorum virorum
Subtitle: ad D.M. Ortuinum Gratiu[m], Attico lepôre referta, denuò excusa & à mendis repurgata : qvibvs ob stili & argumenti similitudinem adiecimus in calce Dialogum mirè festiuum, eruditis salibus refertum.
Contributors: Gratius, Ortuinus, d. 1542.; Crotus Rubianus, ca. 1480-1539; Hutten, Ulrich von, 1488-1523
Publisher: s.n.]
Published: 1556
Place of publication: [Roma
Language: lat
Subjects: Gratius, Ortuinus, -- d. 1542 -- Correspondence.; Scholasticism -- Humor.; Monasticism and religious orders -- Humor.; Latin letters, Medieval and modern.
Genres: Correspondence.; Humor.
Other titles: Dvo volvmina Epistolarvm obscvrorvm virorvm; Epistolae obscurorum virorum ad M. Ortuinum Gratium; Epistolae obscur. viror; Epistolae obscvr. viror
Work titles: Epistolae obscurorum virorum.
Notes: Vol.1: [224] p.; v.2: 99 [i.e. 101], [3] leaves.

Errors in foliation: in v.2, leaves [85-101] wrongly numbered 83-99.

Signatures: v.1: A-H¹²B⁴C-K¹²; v.2: A-H¹²I⁸ (I6,7,8 blank).

Imprint statement from Benzing.

Title of v. 2: Epistolae obscurorum virorum ad M. Ortuinum Gratium, nil praeter lusum continentes & iocum, in arrogantes sciolos, plerumq[ue] famae bonorum virorum obtrectatores, & sanioris doctrinae contaminatores ... [without imprint].

At end of v. 2.: "Romae stampato con priuilegio del papa, & confirmato in lugo, qui vulgo dicitur, bel vedere."

The authorship of the Epistolae was formerly attributed to Reuchlin, Erasmus, Hutten and others. More recent researches have made it almost certain that the first series, consisting of 41 letters (first pub. 1515?) was written by Crotus Rubeanus; the appendix of 7 letters (first pub. with the edition printed at Strassburg? 1516?) and the majority of the 62 letters which form the second series (first pub. 1517) were written by Ulrich von Hutten. The authorship of the eighth letter in the appendix to the first series, entitled "Ioannes Tolletanus R. Kalberstadensi ... ex Brabantia a. 1537." (first pub. with the MDLVI edition of this series), of some of the letters belonging to the second series, and of the eight letters forming the appendix to the second series (first pub. with the 2d edition, Coloniae? without date) has thus far not been ascertained. Cf. E. Böcking, Epist. obscur. vir. Lipsiae, 1864-70.

In this edition v. 1 contains the first series with the appendix of eight letters followed by "Dialogus novvs et mire festivvs, ex quorundam virorum salibus cribratus, non minus eruditionis, quàm macaronices complectens. Epigramma I[oannis] A[lexandri] B[rassicani] ..."

Title within borders.

Limp green vellum.

Adams, E285.

Benzing, J. Ulrich von Hutten und seine Drucker, 248

Burns Library copy: inscription on t.p.: "E bibliotheca Keslen."; stamp: Boston College Library, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Copy 2 with: De generibus ebriosorum, et ebrietate vitanda ... [Roma : s.n.], M.D.LVII [1557]. Bound together subsequent to publication.

c.1-2: 01-30645.