Hartmann Schedel / Michael Wolgemut/ Wilhelm Pleydenwurff - The Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) - 1493

Original incunabulum leaf CCXLV (245) 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 woodcut on the recto side portrays the following story: In Italy, during the time of Emperor Sigismund, a knight named Eurialus and a remarkably beautiful woman named Lucretia from Siena fell passionately in love, fulfilled their desires while the emperor was in Siena, but were forced to part when he moved on, leading to Lucretia's death from grief and Eurialus's subsequent sorrow until the emperor arranged his marriage to a noble virgin.

On the verso side four beautiful large illustrations are portrayed:
1. Cosimo de Medici, a mighty citizen of Florence.
2. Nicholas Euboicus, bishop of Saguritum.
3. Antonius Cermisanus, a singular prince of medicine
4. Bartolomeo Montagnano, distinguished natural philosopher and physician

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

Dimensions: 43,5 x 29,2 cm

Good condition, a few small spots and an old annotation in white margin.