Descrizione

12° (140x75 mm). XXIV, 142, [2] pp. Collation: *¹² A-F¹². Contemporary stiff vellum binding, raised bands on spine (slightly stained). Manucript ownership entry on the first flyleaf  and on the lower margin of a few leaves (Convent of S. Maria degli Angeli in Marano). Woodcut historiated initials and ornaments. Small loss to lower outer corner of ll. A⁸ and A¹² slightly affecting the text. Light browning, particularly on the first quire, but overall a good, genuine copy. 
Uncommon original edition of this manual for preachers, written by the Conventual Friar Minor Amadeo da Castrovillari, most likely born at the end of the 18th century, a consulting member of the Sacred Congregation of the Index. The term "a braccio" ('off the cuff') should not be understood in the sense of improvisation, but rather refers to preaching from memory starting from a written text, made possible with the aid of mnemonic enhancement practices. A section of the work, which opens with its own title page on l. E9 recto, is in fact dedicated to the art of memory.
Italian Union Catalogue, IT\ICCU\BRIE\001554; J. C. A. M. von Aretin, Systematische Anleitung zur Theorie und Praxis der Mnemonik, Seidel, 1810, 352; M.N. Young, Bibliography of Memory, Philadelphia-New York, 1961, p. 61.