PITTS THEOLOGY LIBRARY
ARCHIVES
AND MANUSCRIPTS DEPT.
CATHOLIC CHURCH. ARCHDIOCESE OF MAINZ (GERMANY).
ARCHBISHOP (1515-1545 : ALBERT)
Albertus Dei et Apostolice Sedis Gratia Maguntinen...
Indulgence, 1515
MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 085
EXTENT:
1 broadside ; 30.2 x 20.2 cm. (4to)
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CITATION: Catholic Church Archdiocese of Mainz (Germany) Archbishop (1515-1545 : Albert), Albertus Dei et Apostolice Sedis gratia Maguntinen[sis] [sic] et Madgeburgen[sis] Archiepiscop[us] ac Halberstaten[sis] ecclesiar[m] Administrator, . . ., MSS 085, MSC 001 KESSLER REFORMATION COLLECTION, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.
Scope and Content Note
Indulgences were issued to defray the cost of building the basilica of St. Peter in Rome. Their distribution was often linked to the sacrament of penance, as believers were granted spiritual merits in exchange for financial donations. This particular indulgence, believed to be the only specimen of its kind thus far recovered, was issued specifically to clergy, granting them liturgical benefits in exchange for their contributions. The printing of this indulgence was probably ordered by Johann Tetzel himself and carried out by Melchior Lotter, the Elder, who was also to print Luther's ninety-five theses two years later.
This is the only copy of this edition of this indulgence recovered. J. Tetzel was responsible for the printing of 11 indulgences, issued in 15 editions. This copy was found within a book binding dated 1530, serving as an end paper, by the German bibliographer and Reformation scholar Fritz Beyer in 1937.