Hartmann Schedel/ Wohlgemut/ Pleydenwurff/Dürer - The Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) - 1493

Original incunabulum leaf CXLI (141) from the Nuremberg Chronicle of Hartmann Schedel, the first German edition from 1493.

An incunabulum (cradle print) is a book printed in Europe before 1 January 1501, when the printing press was still in its infancy, and of which the text is set in movable type. They are now rarely seen on the market.

The Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) by Hartmann Schedel is one of the most famous and best illustrated incunabula. The beautiful woodcuts were made by Michael Wohlgemut (1434/37-1519) and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff (1450-1494), a teacher of Albrecht Dürer. Dürer probably also contributed to the execution of many of the woodcuts for this incunabulum.

The beautifully coloured woodcuts on the recto side show two Emperors; Zeno and Anastasius.
Furthermore, an illustration of Odoacer and Theodoric are shown. They stand side by side; each wearing a plain crown, carrying a scepter, one in his right, the other in his left hand. Odoacer is on the left and Theodoric is on the right.

On the verso side, six beautiful illustrations are depicted:
1. Earthquake, lightning, comet, and eclipse are all represented in a small woodcut.
2. Michaelis.
3. Boetius, a Christian man.
4. Symachus, a Roman patrician, senator, orator and philosopher.
5. Fulgentius, by birth an African, bishop at Ruspe, and a highly learned doctor.
6. Gennadius, a bishop.

This is not a facsimile edition, but an original leaf printed in the 15th century - so 532 years old!
Rare in coloured version.

Dimensions: 43 x 29,5 cm

Good condition, a few spots and old creases and a fine tear in white margin.

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