Indulgence Broadside, 1480

LUCAS DE TOLLENTIS, Bishop of Sebenico (1428–1491).
[Indulgence for the Jubilee Year 1480]. Broadside, printed on vellum.
[Mainz: Peter Schoeffer, before 22 March] 1480. (07015)

This rare letter of indulgence, one of two known copies, was offered for the remission of sins in the Jubilee Year of 1480. Bridwell Library’s copy was purchased and filled out by hand at Kirn, Germany, on 17 April 1480; unfortunately, the name of the purchaser has been erased. The bottom edge was folded up and pierced with string used to attach the issuer’s official seal, which is not preserved.

The indulgence is of considerable typographic interest. The large initial L came from the set used in Fust and Schoeffer’s 1462 Bible, the initial M is from their 1457 Psalter font, and the three headings in larger letters were printed with the type from Gutenberg’s 42-Line Bible. This 25-year-old type came into Schoeffer’s possession at an unknown date after the dissolution of Fust’s partnership with Gutenberg.