Schedel, Hartmann

Imperial folio (17 3/4 x 11 3/4 in.; 451 x 299 mm). Xylographic title-page and, according to Sidney Cockerell's traditional count, 1,809 woodcut illustrations, town views, and maps (some full-page or double-page, of which 1,164 are repeats) by Michael Wolgemut, Wilhelm Pleydenwurff and their workshop, including Albrecht Dürer, side-notes or captions identifying cities; title-page soiled, some marginal spotting, light to moderate browning throughout, a few short tears chiefly along bottom margin repaired, three long tears slightly affecting text and one woodcut, all neatly repaired, three corners remargined. Eighteenth-century calf, gilt lozenges on covers, spine gilt in eight compartments, ivory lettering piece, edges stained red; endpapers renewed.

HC* 14508; Goff S307; BMC II:437; ISTC is00307000; BSB-Ink S195

First edition of the most extensively illustrated book of the fifteenth century. A history of the world from the Creation to the author's own time, the Chronicle is remarkable for its illustrations, its graphic designs, its printing and for its description of cities. There are one hundred and two early views of towns and cities, thirty-two of which are among the first authentic panoramas ever made. It also includes the famous early map of Europe (by Hieronymus Muenzer after Nicolas Cusa) and a Ptolemaic world map (Shirley 19). The many woodcut illustrations includes portraits of kings, queens, saints and martyrs, with allegorical pictures of miracles.