Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
9
A controversial Counter-Reformation commentary
Property sold to benefit Albertus Magnus High School
SADOLETO, JACOPO
In Pauli episolam [sic] ad Romanos commentariorum libri tres. Venice: Giovanni Antonio Nicolini da Sabbio and Melchiorre Sessa, 1536. First Venetian edition. Contemporary vellum, 6 x 4 1/2 inches (15.25 x 11 cm). Collation: 8º: A–2B82C4; 204 ff. (Our copy with gathering C duplicated and therefore 212 leaves.) Binding worn, with some stains and a short tear to the yap edge on the upper cover. Title page slightly soiled, otherwise a clean copy.
A nice copy of this Venetian piracy of Sadoleto's commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans. Though a devout Catholic, Sadoleto sought to bring the Protestants back into the fold of the Church through dialogue and sometimes conciliation. This commentary was seen as too agreeable towards the Reformation and was censored and much-debated in Rome.
Sold for $480
Estimated at $600 - $900
Includes Buyer's Premium
Property sold to benefit Albertus Magnus High School
SADOLETO, JACOPO
In Pauli episolam [sic] ad Romanos commentariorum libri tres. Venice: Giovanni Antonio Nicolini da Sabbio and Melchiorre Sessa, 1536. First Venetian edition. Contemporary vellum, 6 x 4 1/2 inches (15.25 x 11 cm). Collation: 8º: A–2B82C4; 204 ff. (Our copy with gathering C duplicated and therefore 212 leaves.) Binding worn, with some stains and a short tear to the yap edge on the upper cover. Title page slightly soiled, otherwise a clean copy.
A nice copy of this Venetian piracy of Sadoleto's commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans. Though a devout Catholic, Sadoleto sought to bring the Protestants back into the fold of the Church through dialogue and sometimes conciliation. This commentary was seen as too agreeable towards the Reformation and was censored and much-debated in Rome.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
