Original incunabulum woodcut leaf CXXIII (123) 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 woodcuts of Folio CXXIII illustrate different roman empires including: Tacitus, Florianus, Probus, Carus, Numerianus, Carinus, Diocletian and lastly Maximian. The verso side depicts different martyrs: 1. Adauctus - A Roman patrician and Christian martyr in Phrygia. 2. Alexander - A powerful soldier of the legions of Thebes who was martyred. 3. Barbara - A noble virgin from Nicomedia who was tortured and martyred by her father. 4. Anastasia - Daughter of a noble Roman, wife of Publius, and a Christian who was martyred. 5. Chrysogonus and Claudius - Chrysogonus comforted Anastasia and was martyred by decapitation and Claudius was one of the renowned men who suffered martyrdom in Rome. 6. Crispinus and Crispinianus - two men martyred in Soissons. 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 30 cm. Good condition, upper margin short, two small holes.