DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52687#0057
INCUNABULA.
39
A FINE COPY OF THE FAMOUS “NUREMBERG CHRONICLED
75 SCHEDEL, HARTMANN. Liber Chronicarum. Nuremberg, Anton
Koberger, 1493.
Large Fol. Gothic letter, 64 long lines io a page; 20 leaves
Registrum, 299 numbered leaves (includ. the 3 blanks 259—61)
and 6 leaves Appendix: De Sarmatia. With the large double-
page map of Europe and about 1800 superb woodcuts
by Wohlgemuth and Pleydenwurff not coloured (rare in this
state). In a fine XVIth century binding of pure Renaissance-style: richly
stamped black calf over wooden boards, eight brass corner pieces. Frs. 2400.—
Hain-Cop. * 14508. Proctor 2084. Schreiber 5203. Muther 424. Dodgson 1, 228.
246—8. Brit. Mus. Cat. II, 437.
FIRST EDITION. The Nuremberg Chronicle has held, and still holds a unique
position among pictorial chronicles, as being the most remarkable production of its kind.
It is a general history beginning with the creation of the world, and carrying on the
subject to the reign of the Emperor Maximilian, with whose characteristic portrait the
volume closes. The illustrations are of great interest and are very varied, representing
the progress of Creation; genealogies being made to form ornamental borderings by
means of their decorative linking together with foliage and branchwork, often treated
with great boldness and beauty, Cyclops, Hermaphrodites, Views of Cities, Portraits of
Emperors, and many others impossible to mention in a brief catalogue description. From
Trithemius one learns that’the author of the ‘Chronicle’, Hartmann Schedel, compiled it
from varius sources, “adding some things on his own authority.” There is also a very
interesting reference to the discovery of the New World, the book being published
three or four month after Columbus had returned and made known his discovery. But
in this chronicle, a native of Nuremberg, Martin Behaim, is given the honour of
being the actual discoverer, as a counterclaim set up in consequence of the news of
Columbus’ return. The description occurs on fol. 290.
Title-leaf mounted and slightly defective in lower left-hand corner, the first
leaves which have suffered by damp and water at inner margins are skilfully mended,
a few large, but faint waterstains, otherwise this is an exceptionally fine and
clean copy, in a beautiful contemporary binding, quite perfect, and with
the woodcuts in splendid fresh impressions and entirely uncoloured. At beginning of the
Table and Preface are two large capitals, exquisitely painted in red and blue, with pen-
drawn elongation into margin. The other initials are supplied in red.
From the library ofD. Richardson with his engr. bookplate pasted inside front-cover.
76 SCHEDEL, HARTMANN. Buch der Chroniken und Geschichien.
(Translated by Georg Alt.) Nuremberg, Anton Koberger, 1493,
23rd (December).
I.ge. FoL Gothic letter, 64 long lines to a page, 10 unn. 11.+ 286
numb. 11. without sign. With about 1,800 coloured woodcuts, large and
small, as in the FIRST LATIN EDITION (see preceding item.) Contemp.
German binding of pigskin, richly blind-stamped with borders of flowers,
heads, &c., two catdies for clasps. Frs. 1000.—
Hain* 14510. Proctor 2086. Schreiber 5205. Brit. Mus. Cat. 11, 437.
FIRST GERMAN EDITION, with the same woodcuts as in the original Latin
edition (12th July of the same year). Perfect copy, but somewhat stained by use through-
out; wormholes through first leaves which are defective on lower right-hand corners
but mended, the colouring of the cuts has been executed in a rather crude manner.
Fol. XXX is repaired on lower margin with slight loss of text, some 20 leaves in the
middle of book are made up on margins.
G1LHOFER & RANSCHBURG, WIEN I, BOGNERGASSE Nr. 2.
39
A FINE COPY OF THE FAMOUS “NUREMBERG CHRONICLED
75 SCHEDEL, HARTMANN. Liber Chronicarum. Nuremberg, Anton
Koberger, 1493.
Large Fol. Gothic letter, 64 long lines io a page; 20 leaves
Registrum, 299 numbered leaves (includ. the 3 blanks 259—61)
and 6 leaves Appendix: De Sarmatia. With the large double-
page map of Europe and about 1800 superb woodcuts
by Wohlgemuth and Pleydenwurff not coloured (rare in this
state). In a fine XVIth century binding of pure Renaissance-style: richly
stamped black calf over wooden boards, eight brass corner pieces. Frs. 2400.—
Hain-Cop. * 14508. Proctor 2084. Schreiber 5203. Muther 424. Dodgson 1, 228.
246—8. Brit. Mus. Cat. II, 437.
FIRST EDITION. The Nuremberg Chronicle has held, and still holds a unique
position among pictorial chronicles, as being the most remarkable production of its kind.
It is a general history beginning with the creation of the world, and carrying on the
subject to the reign of the Emperor Maximilian, with whose characteristic portrait the
volume closes. The illustrations are of great interest and are very varied, representing
the progress of Creation; genealogies being made to form ornamental borderings by
means of their decorative linking together with foliage and branchwork, often treated
with great boldness and beauty, Cyclops, Hermaphrodites, Views of Cities, Portraits of
Emperors, and many others impossible to mention in a brief catalogue description. From
Trithemius one learns that’the author of the ‘Chronicle’, Hartmann Schedel, compiled it
from varius sources, “adding some things on his own authority.” There is also a very
interesting reference to the discovery of the New World, the book being published
three or four month after Columbus had returned and made known his discovery. But
in this chronicle, a native of Nuremberg, Martin Behaim, is given the honour of
being the actual discoverer, as a counterclaim set up in consequence of the news of
Columbus’ return. The description occurs on fol. 290.
Title-leaf mounted and slightly defective in lower left-hand corner, the first
leaves which have suffered by damp and water at inner margins are skilfully mended,
a few large, but faint waterstains, otherwise this is an exceptionally fine and
clean copy, in a beautiful contemporary binding, quite perfect, and with
the woodcuts in splendid fresh impressions and entirely uncoloured. At beginning of the
Table and Preface are two large capitals, exquisitely painted in red and blue, with pen-
drawn elongation into margin. The other initials are supplied in red.
From the library ofD. Richardson with his engr. bookplate pasted inside front-cover.
76 SCHEDEL, HARTMANN. Buch der Chroniken und Geschichien.
(Translated by Georg Alt.) Nuremberg, Anton Koberger, 1493,
23rd (December).
I.ge. FoL Gothic letter, 64 long lines to a page, 10 unn. 11.+ 286
numb. 11. without sign. With about 1,800 coloured woodcuts, large and
small, as in the FIRST LATIN EDITION (see preceding item.) Contemp.
German binding of pigskin, richly blind-stamped with borders of flowers,
heads, &c., two catdies for clasps. Frs. 1000.—
Hain* 14510. Proctor 2086. Schreiber 5205. Brit. Mus. Cat. 11, 437.
FIRST GERMAN EDITION, with the same woodcuts as in the original Latin
edition (12th July of the same year). Perfect copy, but somewhat stained by use through-
out; wormholes through first leaves which are defective on lower right-hand corners
but mended, the colouring of the cuts has been executed in a rather crude manner.
Fol. XXX is repaired on lower margin with slight loss of text, some 20 leaves in the
middle of book are made up on margins.
G1LHOFER & RANSCHBURG, WIEN I, BOGNERGASSE Nr. 2.
