Commentaria posthuma. by Schlichtingius, Jonas - 1656 [i.e., 1665]

Irenopoli [Amsterdam]: sumptibus Irenici Philalethii [Samuel Przypkowski], 1656 [i.e., 1665]. Folio (31.5 cm, 12.44"). 2 vols. in 1. I: [9] ff., 325 pp. (with [3] ff. section titles). II: [2] ff., 427 pp., [28] ff. (with [15] ff. section titles).

Polish nobleman Jonas Schlichtingius (Jonasz Szlichtyng, 1592–1661) commenced writing these New Testament commentaries in 1655, having fled to Cracow at the outbreak of war with Sweden. Although he was taken prisoner at Stargard in 1660 and his work confiscated, the Socinian theologian continued writing "through five bad sieges, in the middle of the fury of wars, and in captivity" (cataloguer's translation, f. **2v), and revising the commentaries until his death the following year. In a brief ad lectorem, the persecuted author declares, "I would not wish the Church held responsible [for these commentaries]. Whatever is said and written is [mine]. . . ." (f. [pi]4r).
    Schlichtingius left his opus in the care of his sons and two friends, John Preussis and Stanislaüs Lubieniecius: In the preface to this volume, the latter discusses his life and work including his exile from Warsaw in 1647 and imprisonment in 1660. Three copious indices to scriptural sources and references within the text close the collection. Woodcut devices grace the sectional titles; refined tailpieces and large initials against a floriated background decorate the volume throughout. There is scattered Greek type.
    Provenance: Early inscription "Middeldorpf" on front flyleaf; bookplate and stamp of Rochester Theological Seminary (later the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School). Deaccessioned 2005.
    Evidence of readership: Sparse contemporary ink annotations; underlining throughout, heavy in quires A–C, K, M, Eee, et alibi.
    First edition: Published as the seventh and eighth volumes in a series of nine, comprising the Bibliotheca fratrum polonorum (1665–68, and a supplement in 1692).
    
    Knijff & Visser, Bibliographia sociniana, 2003 (for Bib. fratrum polonorum, see 2001–2011); STCN Bock I: 770, 823; Wallace, Antitrinitarian Biography, 209. Contemporary northern-European style vellum over boards ruled in blind, panels with blind-stamped central cartouches, blue speckled edges and evidence of ties; old spotting and soiling with joints (outside) partially open but binding sound. Ex-library as above: Bookplate on front pastedown, stamp to title-page (only), old library sticker to spine. Some dust-soiling and foxing, small tears, and small holes, plus a few natural paper flaws; contemporary inkstains on three or four leaves (one causing a hole at R4). A strong, interesting copy.