[Manipulus curatorum]

4to, (leaf 19.8 cm), [131] (of 152) leaves; collating: a-t? (-a8 -b8 -m1 -t1 -t8 blank); capital spaces, 31 lines; occasional contemporary annotations; several gatherings loose, moderate dampstaining throughout; minor worming and the occasional ink splash; contemporary full brown blindstamped calf over wooden boards, with an overall diamond motif enclosing interlocking lattice patterns, clasp perished, turn-ins curled, spine extremities chipped away, two endsheets of 14th century (?) manuscript waste are loose, but present, a 4" x 5" slip of paper in a 15th century hand is laid in; bookplate of Wilfred Merton 1917. Shaken, rough, and defective, but this appears to be the original 15th-century binding, and the 131 leaves of text that are present, are reasonably clean and crisp. From his obituary in the London Times we lean that Wilfred Merton (1888-1957), from his schooldays . had been an ardent book collector, and this remained an absorbing hobby for the rest of his life. While at Cambridge he became acquainted with Sir Sydney Cockerell, who needless to say gave him ready advice and encouragement, and also introduced him to his friend, the late Sir Emery Walker, who was in need of a partner in the firm bearing his name. As a result Merton joined the firm as his partner on leaving Cambridge and continued as managing director on Sir Emery's death in 1933. The Manipulus curatorum is "a handbook for the guidance of priests, with terse summaries of essential theology, of pastoral practice, and of the nature and use of the sacraments" (University of Chicago). ISTC notes that "This press has yet to be conclusively located" and that only seven copies of this edition are known, every one of which is defective. Goff; G-593; GW 11815; ISTC ig00591500.…