Incunabula Augustine, Aurelius De moribus ecclesie catholicae. n.d., Dr. u. J. (Cologne, Bartholomäus von Unkel, c. 1480). 34 leaves (leaves 1 and 34 blank), sign. Aa-Dd10. Goth. Type 1:103G, in 27 quires. Rubricated, with 1 five-line and 3 two-line initials. Initials, as well as majuscules after the beginnings of sentences and bow sign. in red. 8°. Masterly German Renaissance-style cloth over boards on 6 bindings with blind embossing on both covers. These divided into fields with fillets of two to four lines, the frames with arabesques, the diamonds with fleurons stamps. Remnants of former clasps. Extremely rare Editio Princeps of this epochal work on the moral theology of St Augustine. - Not traceable for us in international trade worldwide, only 4 copies traceable for us at auctions in the last 50 years. - Complete catalogue of cradle prints, 02914 - Hain, L. Repertorium bibliographicum, 2108 - Voulliéme, E. Der Buchdruck Kölns bis zum Ende des fünfzehnten Jahrhunderts, 204. - Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum, vol. 1, pp. 241f. - Proctor, R. Index to the early printed books in the British Museum, Tl. I, 1145 - Goff, F.R. Incunabula in American libraries, A-1296 - Pellechet, M. Catalogue général des incunables des bibliothèques publiques de France, vol. 1, 1591 - An early work by the church father and important religious philosopher, in which Augustin outlines his important moral doctrine for the Catholic Church and at the same time polemicises against the Manichaeans, a sect to which he himself had belonged shortly before, and at the same time the only edition of this work in the incunabula period. Pollard (British Museum) assumes that this polemic was printed by Unkel as part of a series of 5 works by or about Augustine, which also included his "Confessiones" (1482). - An elegantly set, wide-margined impression on fine laid paper (with the watermark flower, double stem, root, which we cannot resolve), the book block here complete with the first and last blank leaf. Binding slightly rubbed, book block somewhat browned in the margins, some pages slightly finger-stained. Incunabula. - Rubricated, with one 5-line and three 2-line initials, as well as numerous majuscules and initial-strokes in red. - Particularly rare Editio Princeps of this seminal treatise on morals by St Augustine, one of the most influential books in the field of Catholic theology ever written. In the international trade currently not available, only 4 copies traceable for us at auctions in the last 50 years. - An early work by the church father and important religious philosopher, in which Augustine outlines his moral doctrine and polemicises against the Manichaeans, a sect to which he himself had belonged until shortly before, at the same time the only separate edition of this text in the incunabula period. Pollard (British Museum) assumes that the polemic treatise was printed by Unkel as one of a series of 5 works by or about Augustine, which also included his 'Confessiones' (1482). - An elegantly typefaced edition printed with wide margins on fine laid paper (with the watermark: flower, double stem, root), complete with the first and last blank leaf. Binding slightly rubbed, book-block somewhat browned at the edges, some pages slightly finger-stained. This lot is taxed. The hammer price is subject to a 24.95% buyer's premium and the final invoice amount is subject to 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.