Stoeffler, Calendarium romanum magnum, Oppenheim, 1518, modern leather

STOEFFLER, JOHANN

Calendarium romanum magnum, Caesareae maiestati dicatum. (Oppenheim: Jakob Köbel, 24 March 1518)

FIRST EDITION, folio (300 x 202mm.), title within woodcut border (containing numerous armorials), woodcut initials and illustrations (2 leaves towards the end, containing woodcuts of instruments, printed on thicker paper), printed in red and black, last two leaves containing errata, modern calf gilt, some light soiling, browning or staining, repaired tears to *2, fol.41 and the table for 1578-1579 (this last affecting the text), a few other small tears

Stoeffler's work on calendar reform was requested by the Lateran Council of 1512-1517 (though it had been initiated by Sixtus IV who requested Regiomontanus to work on this). As well as details of the calendar, this volume also contains sections on phlebotomy (with a woodcut of anatomical man), eclipses, a gazetteer, calculations for the dating of Easter and the positions of the sun and moon calculated to the year 1579. It is considered the finest production of Köbel's press.

LITERATURE:

Benzing, Köbel 58; Fairfax Murray, German 403; Tomash & Williams S196; USTC 617753; VD16 S9188; Zinner 1101

PROVENANCE:

bought from Libreria antiquaria Pregliasco, Turin, 1997, booklabel; Erwin Tomash, booklabel