Original incunabulum leaf CCXV (215) from the Nuremberg Chronicle of Hartmann Schedel, the first German 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 on the recto side portrays 4 beautiful illustrations: 1. Thomas Aquinas, of the Preaching Order, a teacher, and a disciple of Albertus Magnus, was born of a noble family in the vicinity of Apuleia and Sicily. The angelic doctor, fully robed as man of learning, holds an open book before him. A dove, probably symbolic of the Holy Spirit, has alighted on his shoulder and appears to be whispering in his ear. 2. Carolus, brother of King Ludovici of France, was declared king of Sicily by Pope Clement. 3. Flagellants: The sect of the Flagellants had its origin in Italy. They whipped themselves with scourges provided with knots and barbs. Out of this practice originated many errors of faith and in the sacrament. To some extent this sect was finally exterminated by fire and sword. 4. Philip, son of Saint Ludovici, the king, assumed the sovereignty upon the death of his father and brother. On the verso side, three popes are illustrated in a lineage, which include: Pope Gregory the Tenth, Innocent the Fifth and lastly Hadrianus, the fifth. Furthermore, a council which was convened at Lyons by Pope Gregory the Tenth, is portrayed at the bottom left of the Folio. 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 28,5 cm Good condition, a small wormhole in upper margin, a few signs of use.