Fine Books & Manuscripts

[HYMNAL BOOK – DANISH]. –– KINGO, Thomas (1634–1703). Thomas Kingos Aandelige Siunge-koor. Copenhagen: Daniel Paulii, 1680-81. Four parts in one volume, separate titles. 16mo (146 x 82mm). Titles printed in red and black, etched portrait frontispiece of Kingo, historiated initials, woodcut devices and decorations, many pages of hymn music printed by wood block. Retains contemporary upper wrapper cover with woodcut vignettes and title in manuscript (fore-edge tattered). Later black buckram, beveled edges, stamped in gilt, decorative corner devices in blind, all red edges (margins cropped close; three leaves lacking from third part (pp. 77-82); last two leaves re-margined at foot, terminal text leaf with two small holes in text). A RARE EARLY EUROPEAN PRINTED HYMN BOOK from the first real important hymn writer and a leading figure among the 17th century Danish poets. No copies traced at auction; one copy held at the Danish National Library.