October 2021 Auction Ends Thursday, October 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/28/2021
Scarce first edition, first printing of "Liber Chronicarum" or "Nuremberg Chronicle", the 15th century illustrated history of the world, widely considered the high point of printed books in the post-Gutenberg incunable era. Nuremberg: Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 12 July 1493. Written by the Nuremberg doctor and humanist Hartmann Schedel, and largely illustrated by Michael Wolgemut's workshop, with many views reportedly completed by Albrecht Durer, who apprenticed with Wolgemut at the time.
"Nuremberg Chronicle" contains over 1,800 woodcut illustrations, many revealing dozens of cities such as Jerusalem for the very first time, exposing Europe to an outward-looking orientation that helped usher in the Age of Enlightenment. In addition to cities and historical events, illustrations also intimately document 15th century life including architecture, home furnishings, clothes, domestic animals and livestock, infrastructure, astronomers and other professions, etc. The book is divided into 11 eras, from creation of the world to then modern times up through the 1490s.
Large folio measures approximately 18" x 12", with original wooden boards rebound in ribbed calf, with worn binding and rubbing to covers. Complete except for six leaves: contents leaf "El-Jula-Fredericus tercius", folios 189, 259, 260, 264 and one blank leaf at end. Title-page is trimmed and laid-down. Fewer than 50 leaves have repairs to margins, with a few instances of small loss to illustrations or text. Light dampstaining, a few minor wormholes not affecting text, a few closed tears, small amount of paint applied to a few views, paragraph of text and image of a Pope erased by an early hand to folio 169, and discreet marginalia in an early hand to some leaves. Previous owner's private bookplate. Overall very good condition. One of the most important books in the history of literature and art, with fewer than 400 copies believed to be extant, most residing in libraries and public institutions.
Scarce 1493 First Edition of "Nuremberg Chronicle", the Lavishly Illustrated High Point of Printing in the Age of Incunable, Published Shortly After the Gutenberg Bible
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