February 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, February 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/29/2024
Third German edition of Hartmann Schedel's ''Nuremberg Chronicle'', and the first pirated German edition, published by Johann Schonsperger in Augsburg, 1500. After the first Latin edition of ''Nuremberg Chronicle'' was published in July 1493, the original publisher Anton Koberger issued a German edition later that year. But without copyright laws yet in place, the publisher Johann Schonsperger set out to create a smaller sized, more accessible version, meticulously recreating the 1,809 woodcuts depicting cities and their inhabitants, religious figures, fashion, architecture, etc. of the known world. With its smaller size and limited number of copies printed, the pirated editions are actually rarer than the original, with this 1500 edition perhaps the rarest. There is only one auction result we're aware of from the past twenty years (Christie's lot 42 in the 9 December 2009 sale) which sold for $13,750, and that copy lacked the often-excised double page map of Europe which this copy contains.
All 332 leaves are present, measuring just under 8'' x 12''. Bound in gilt-ruled calf, all edges gilt and marbled endpapers, with the private library label of Forbes, Northampton, Mass. on front pastedown. Small hole punch identifiers for the Library also appear on the title page and a few leaves within. A mostly clean copy with a few leaves repaired on margins. Leaf 191 has writing to right margin. Minor dampstaining to a few leaves as expected. Overall in very good condition.
Scarce 1500 Third German Edition of ''Nuremberg Chronicle'' & the First Pirated German Edition -- Complete with Double Page Map of Europe
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