Early print of the letter Erasmus wrote to Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, Archbishop of Mainz, in October 1519, with statements about Luther. In it Erasmus recommends to hear Luther, whom he defends in several instances, and suggests to help him where he errs. The letter was delivered by Ulrich von Hutten (1488-1523) and likely published without Erasmus's consent. The present edition is one of seven unauthorised editions published in the same year. It was printed by Marcus Wirsung (ca. 1460-ca.1520) and Sigmund Grimm (ca. 1480-1530), whose printing office was the most important publication centre for humanist literature in pre-Reformation Augsburg. Their edition includes a beautiful title border by Hans Weiditz (1495-ca.1537), and is among the rarest of the seven, with only five copies recorded by the Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC). The present copy was auctioned at Sotheby's in 1955 and 1980, and is one of only two copies that we have been able to trace in sales records.
The boards are somewhat warped. The work has been bound with 25 blank leaves. Otherwise in good condition. Adams E 871; Allen, Opus epistolarum Erasmi IV, 1033; Bezzel 28; BM STC German, p. 276; Erasmus Online 1957; Proctor 10920; USTC 635546 (5 copies); Vander Haeghen I, 93; VD16 E 1887; not in De Reuck.