DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30697#0263
Nuremberg; 1493.] CHRONICLE.
255
667- Chronicon Nurembergense. Printed hy
Koherger. Nuremherg. 1493. Folio.
Editio Pringeps. The course of our researches has at length
brought us to this very extraordinary volume; which, notwithstand-
ing that it is by no means rare, cannot fail to be always interesting to
the lovers of ancient printing and ancient engraving. If Koberger
had printed only this Chronicle, he would have done enough to place
his name among the most distinguished of his typographical brethren ;
but he has other, and nearly equal, claims to a very marked celebrity.
Our object, however, isconfinedto the book before us. The engravings
are upon wood, and are executedby Wolgemut and Pleydenwurff ;
the former of whom was the master of Albert Durer. When the reader
is informed thatthere are upwards of Two Thousand Two Hundred * and
Fisty impressions (raanyof them however repeated) ofthese wooden cuts,
he has learnt enough to conceive (if not in possession of the volume)
that such a chronicle must at least be a very amusing production.
The ensuing specimens of a few of the more curious embellishments
must also increase his desire of obtaining the originals. As it is my
intention to be rather unusually copious upon this article, the reader is
requested to follow me with proportionate patience ; and, in the end,
to forgive me if the description be unnecessarily extended.
And first, in regard to the Author of the Chronicle. Trithemius,
who was a contemporary, tells us, in his De Scriptorib. Ecclesiast. 1494,
fol. 139, rev. ‘that the author was Hartman Schedel of Nuremberg,
a Cerman physician ; who compiled it from I. P. Bergornensis and
other historiographers, adding a few things on his own authority.’
Vossius, Hist. Lat. 1651, 4to. p. 573 is of the same opinion ; as quoted
by Placcius and Clement. Lindenborg had also the same notion, on
theexclusive authority of Trithemius. See Theatr. Anon. et Pseud. 1708,
p. 272. n°. 1073. Fabricius agrees with the preceding, in this con-
clusion. Bibl. Med. et Ins. AEtat. vol. iii. p. 568. Heumann, however,
in his Schediasma de Anon. et Pseudon. pt. ii. ch. ii. § xxxiv. p. 147, has
well observed—that Schedel may be considered as the editor, rather
than the author, of the Chronicle ; having enriched it by his own and
other additions. The second and third colophons (beyond extracted)
* My friend Mr. G. V. Neunburg possesses a ms. list of all these cuts; but as eacb Ieaf is
accompanied with letter-press, and as the leaves are all numbered, the insertion of it is not
necessary.
255
667- Chronicon Nurembergense. Printed hy
Koherger. Nuremherg. 1493. Folio.
Editio Pringeps. The course of our researches has at length
brought us to this very extraordinary volume; which, notwithstand-
ing that it is by no means rare, cannot fail to be always interesting to
the lovers of ancient printing and ancient engraving. If Koberger
had printed only this Chronicle, he would have done enough to place
his name among the most distinguished of his typographical brethren ;
but he has other, and nearly equal, claims to a very marked celebrity.
Our object, however, isconfinedto the book before us. The engravings
are upon wood, and are executedby Wolgemut and Pleydenwurff ;
the former of whom was the master of Albert Durer. When the reader
is informed thatthere are upwards of Two Thousand Two Hundred * and
Fisty impressions (raanyof them however repeated) ofthese wooden cuts,
he has learnt enough to conceive (if not in possession of the volume)
that such a chronicle must at least be a very amusing production.
The ensuing specimens of a few of the more curious embellishments
must also increase his desire of obtaining the originals. As it is my
intention to be rather unusually copious upon this article, the reader is
requested to follow me with proportionate patience ; and, in the end,
to forgive me if the description be unnecessarily extended.
And first, in regard to the Author of the Chronicle. Trithemius,
who was a contemporary, tells us, in his De Scriptorib. Ecclesiast. 1494,
fol. 139, rev. ‘that the author was Hartman Schedel of Nuremberg,
a Cerman physician ; who compiled it from I. P. Bergornensis and
other historiographers, adding a few things on his own authority.’
Vossius, Hist. Lat. 1651, 4to. p. 573 is of the same opinion ; as quoted
by Placcius and Clement. Lindenborg had also the same notion, on
theexclusive authority of Trithemius. See Theatr. Anon. et Pseud. 1708,
p. 272. n°. 1073. Fabricius agrees with the preceding, in this con-
clusion. Bibl. Med. et Ins. AEtat. vol. iii. p. 568. Heumann, however,
in his Schediasma de Anon. et Pseudon. pt. ii. ch. ii. § xxxiv. p. 147, has
well observed—that Schedel may be considered as the editor, rather
than the author, of the Chronicle ; having enriched it by his own and
other additions. The second and third colophons (beyond extracted)
* My friend Mr. G. V. Neunburg possesses a ms. list of all these cuts; but as eacb Ieaf is
accompanied with letter-press, and as the leaves are all numbered, the insertion of it is not
necessary.