The first illustrated Encyclopedia. SCHEDEL. Liber... Lot n° 7

SCHEDEL, Hartmann. Liber Chronicarum. Registrum huius operis libri cronicarum cum figuris et ymagibus ab initio mu(n)di. Nuremberg, Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastien Kammermaister, July 12, 1493 In-folio. 425x280 mm. Parchment binding on wooden boards, title block on smooth spine. Papers 325: [20, Title and Tabula], 300 numbered I-CCXCIX - [1], [5 'De Sarmacia Regione']. There are two Colophons, on paper 266r (June 4, 1493) and on paper 300v ("Anthonius Koberger Nuremberge impressit," July 12, 1493). Papers CCLIX-CCLXI, with current numbering and title, are blank having been reserved for reader's annotations and additions, as evidenced by paper CCLVIII v. Over 1800 figures of various sizes imprinted in woodcut in the text. One large map of Europe on two unfolded pages (299v-300r). In recto of first unnumbered paper, title impressed in woodcut. Last blank paper missing. Central moisture traces and foxing. First Latin edition. Very rare beautifully figured incunabulum. A masterpiece in the history of printing, the work contains more than 1800 superb woodcut-engraved illustrations by Michael Wolgemut et Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. In addition to occupying a key place in the history of book illustration, the Nuremberg Chronicle offers a wonderful insight into Renaissance knowledge and humanistic understanding of the world in the 15th century. The "Nuremberg Chronicle" is a year-by-year account of important events in world history from creation to the year of publication, including references to contemporary events such as the invention of printing in Mainz, the exploration of Africa, and a possible trip in 1483 to America mentioned on folio 290v. van Egmond: "As a product of humanism, the Liber chronicarum is a synthesis of religion, empiricism and classical antiquity. It is no wonder that of all people Schedel published the famous chronicle of world history. After all, he lived right in the center of humanism: Nuremburg. Schedel grew up in the transitional period from the handwritten to the printed book and became an ardent book collector. ... The Nuremburg humanism was characterized by research into scientific, astronomical and astrological issues. ... In the Liber chronicarum Schedel attempts to join together the Biblical and profane history, with lots of emphasis on the descriptions of cities and countries. For instance, in the various eras in world history he has the founding of cities run parallel with Biblical history; that is why the descriptions and pictures of cities are spread throughout the entire book. "The Nuremberg Chronicle is celebrated for its beautiful and numerous woodcut illustrations: it contains numerous representations of cities, 29 on double pages, a large table with coats of arms and blazons (CLXXXIII-CLXXXIIII), a world map (XIII) and a double-page map of Europe at the end. It also includes two important double-page maps: a beautiful world map based on Mela's Cosmographia of 1482 (see Shirley 19) and a map of northern and central Europe by Hieronymus Münzer (1437-1508) from Nicolas Khyrpffs. The world map is one of only three 15th-century maps showing Portuguese knowledge of the Gulf of Guinea from about 1470. It is therefore believed to be the first modern map of this region to appear printed (see Campbell, The Earliest Printed Maps, 1472-1500, 1987).As was often the case with books of this period, some woodcuts appear in the text more than once, with only the captions being changed: the 1809 illustrations are imprinted from 645 woodcuts, with numerous biblical scenes and portraits of saints, emperors, kings and princes: this copy includes on paper 169v the famous portrait of "Pope Joan" ("Joannes Septimus"), which has been removed or defaced in many copies. The printer, Anton Koberger used nineteen existing woodcuts from the Postillae (1481), while the other woodcuts came from the workshop of artists Michael Wolgemut and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. The young A. Durer, who was Wolgemut's pupil from 1486 to 1489. The author's name appears on paper CCLXVIr: "collectum breui tempore auxilio doctoris hartmanni Schedel." Brunet 1, 1860; HC *14508; BMC II, 437; BSB-Ink. S-195; Bod-Inc. S-108; Goff S-307; ISTC is00307000; Olschki, 1954, no.557.See Adrian Wilson, The Making of the Nuremberg Chronicle (1976); S.C. Cockerell's count, Some German woodcuts of the fifteenth century, 1897, pp.35-6; Wilson, The Making of the Nuremberg Chronicle, Amsterdam: 1976); Marco van Egmond, 'Liber chronicarum' by Schedel, in Utrecht University, Department of Special Collections, The Treasury. In-folio. 425x280mm. Vellum on wooden boards, label with title on the flat spine. Leaves 325: [20, Title and Tabula], 300 numbered I-CCXCIX - [1], [5 'De Sarmacia Regione']. There are two Colophons, on sheet 266r (4 June 1493) and o