Johann Olorinus Variscus (d.I. J.Sommer).

Of the miraculous birth, laudable life, manifold good and good deeds, and of the innocent torture and torment of geese. In addition to the highly important and hitherto unanswered question of why geese are slaughtered, roasted and eaten with meat every year on St. Martin's Day. Written for the amusement of all Mertens brothers. Magdeburg, Braun 1609. 8°. With 2 folded. Music supplement, woodcut title vign. and printer's mark at end. 1 leaf, 149 p. Prgt. d. (back inner hinge broken). Neufforge 255. cf. goed. II, 584, 7-a (citing a simultaneous edition published by Francke). Rare first edition. - "... a burlesque sermon on the St. Martin's goose, which as a whole and often also in detail betrays its dependence on W. Spangenberg's Gans-König published two years earlier" (ADB XXXIV, 604). The author, who came from Zwickau, was a pastor at Osterweddingen near Magdeburg. The title vignette shows a table with a roasted goose. - Slightly browned, title page somewhat torn at front and with small marginal tears, biblical inscription on verso - bookplate.