Schedel, Liber chronicarum, Nuremberg, Koberger, 1493, modern calf tooled in period style

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

Hartmann Schedel

Liber chronicarum. Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 12 July 1493

Imperial folio (420 x 293mm.), 325 leaves (of 326, without the blank leaf), [*, **⁶ ***⁸; a⁶ b-d⁴ e-h⁶ i² k⁴ l-n⁶ o² p-q⁶ r-y⁴ z⁶ aa-cc⁶ dd² ee⁶ ff⁴ gg-ii⁶ kk² ll⁴ mm-zz A-K⁶ L^6-2 M⁶], gothic type, xylographic title-page, numerous woodcut illustrations throughout by Wolgemuth, Pleydenwurff and workshop, including portraits, maps and town views, first leaf of De Sarmacia (without conjoint blank) bound before the map of Europe and the other four leaves bound after the map, early manuscript note about the book at the end of the table, full-page woodcut on fol.1v with added ink armorials and the date 1563, manuscript captions to the first few astronomical woodcuts, other early manuscript annotations in different hands, modern blind-stamped calf over wooden boards tooled in period style, two clasps, small hole in fol.8 with slight loss, a few repaired tears, fols 129-130 and 159-160 slightly frayed, lower corner of fol. 142 torn, small tear in text of fol.169, occasional light damp-staining, map of Europe slightly trimmed at foot; overall a good copy

A good copy of Schedel's chronicle of world history, told from the perspective of Nuremberg, with numerous woodcut illustrations and town views.

LITERATURE:

ISTC is00307000

PROVENANCE:

Abbey of Kaisersheim (or Kaisheim, Bavaria, dissolved 1802), inscription on second leaf "B.V. in Caesarea"