[KLOSS, Georg, Dr.]
Catalogue of the Library of Dr. Kloss.
London, S. Sotheby & Son, 1835£1,500.00
Small 4to, pp. xxiii, (i), 343, (i). Roman letter, some Italic, a little Gothic. 8 folding plates, lithographic facsimiles illustrating the various styles of hand-writing and drawings belonging to Philip Melanchthon; light marginal spotting. A good, rare copy in C19 half calf, rebacked, spine remounted, tooled and gilded, morocco lettering pieces on spine, marbled boards, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, others uncut, satin page marker. Lower joint cracked and repaired. Lots priced in C19 hand throughout. Armorial bookplate of celebrated bibliographer Anthony Hobson on ffep verso, his pencil markings in places.
A very nice and well-annotated copy of an important sale catalogue. Georg Kloss (1787-1854) was a practising doctor and a historian of Freemasonry in Frankfurt. A celebrated book collector, he was known for his large collection of manuscripts, sometimes acquired through the wholesale purchase of monastic libraries. Many of the manuscripts and books Kloss acquired had either been written or annotated by the Reformation theologian Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560). This catalogue is prefaced by a short biography of Melanchthon, and contains life-size facsimile examples of Melanchthon’s handwriting, as well as drawings he made in his copies of Ovid and Terence, including an exquisite armoured knight on horseback. The sale comprised of 4682 lots and raised £2,261 s.2.
Bigmore and Wyman 375; The discovery of so much of Melanchthon’s handwriting was described as ‘one of the most extraordinary in the annals of literature, and cannot fail of riveting the attention of all lovers of bibliography.’ The Gentleman’s Magazine, April 1835, pp.417-418