Original incunabulum woodcut leaf CXXV (Folium 125) from the Nuremberg Chronicle of Hartmann Schedel, the first Latin 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 of folio CXXV on the recto side show five beautiful illustrations are portrayed: 1. Sebianus is represented in fur cap and medieval robes. He holds a group of arrows, symbolic of his martydom. 2. Lucia Martyr)is represented with a nimbus and crown of martyrdom. A sword pierces her throat from left to right, as she maintains her attitude of prayer. 3. Vitus, patron saint of dancers had a palm branch in his right hand. In his left hand there is a book upon which a rooster is standing. 4. Afra appears bound to a narrow pillar. It is symbolic of her martyrdom at the stake. 5. Pantaleon, physician and martyr, is portrayed with his hands above his head. Through his hands a huge nail has been driven, which would seem to pierce his head also, although the legend is that his hands were nailed to the tree at which he suffered martyrdom. On the verso side, eight illustrations are portrayed: 1. Dorothea - A virgin from the province of Cappadocia. She was martyred for Christ's sake, being hung on a gallows, beaten severely, and finally beheaded. She is depicted as sending roses and apples from paradise as a sign to Theophilus. 2. Eleutherius - A very illustrious soldier who was martyred in the persecution. Despite severe torture, he remained steadfast in his faith and attained martyrdom, entering Paradise. 3.. Sergius and Bachus - Very noble men who were accused during the persecution. Sergius was eventually beheaded for his faith. 4. The four crowned ones: Severinus, Severianus, Carpopherus, and Victorinus - Refused to sacrifice to the idolatrous god Aesculapius and were consequently beaten to death. 5. Fides - A holy virgin from the city of Agenus who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods despite being urged by the judge. She was martyred on an iron grill over a coal fire. 6. Euphemia - A noble virgin who, along with 70 others, was arrested for refusing to worship the pagan god Mars. 7. Felix an Adauctus, - They were martyred by being put to death by the sword. 8. Felix and Fortunatus - Brothers who were martyred during the persecution at Aquileia. They endured various forms of torture, including being set up on a gallows and having seething oil poured over them, but remained unharmed until they were eventually beheaded. This is not a facsimile edition, but an original leaf printed in the 15th century - so 531 years old! Rare in coloured version. Dimensions: 42 x 29,5 cm Good condition.