1493 – H. Schedel – Maria Magdalena. Lucas Evagelista.

Titles:           “Maria Magdalena. Lucas Evagelista.”

Description:

Very decorative woodcut from Hartmann Schedel’s “Liber chronicarum”  with presentation of Maria Magdalena hold by angels and Lucas the Evangelist. Verso the line of the popes Clemens Anacletus, Evaristus and the martyr of Saint John is depicted.

German edition.

Page number: CVIII

The author of the chronicle was a Nuremberg bibliophile, physician Hartmann Schedel, who spent his whole life collecting information for the chronicle. He had amassed a huge personal library, which was extremely useful to him when compiling his “Liber Chronicarum”. His library contained 370 manuscripts and 670 printed works, including the works of the most famous Italian and German humanists. For that time, it was a truly extensive personal library. The woodblock cutters were Michael Wolgemut, the well-known teacher of Albrecht Dürer, and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. Albrecht Dürer may also have collaborated. Antonius Koberger, one of the most serious printers in Nuremberg, was chosen to print “Liber Chronicarum.” He started his printing business in 1470 with the establishment of a modest printing house. The chronicle was commissioned by the wealthy Nuremberg merchants Sebald Schreyer and his son-in-law Sebastian Kammermeister.

It is believed that the Latin edition may have been printed in about 1,500 copies, and the German edition in about 1,000 copies. This is a very large circulation, since incunabula were usually printed in an edition of 100–300 copies. The chronicle was sold at different prices: an unbound and uncolored copy cost two guilders, a bound copy cost six. It is known that in 1509 there were still 571 copies left unsold, of which 47 were unbound.

The chronicle was printed in two editions, in Latin and German, both in large folio format. The Latin chronicle has 326 leaves, is 43 x 30 cm in size, and has two colophons. They indicate the date of publication differently: the first states that the printing was completed on the fourth day of June 1493, the second – that on the 12th day of July of the same year. The German edition was completed on the 23rd day of December 1493. About 400 copies of the Latin and 300 copies of the German edition of “Liber Chronicarum” have survived to this day.

Cartographer:      Hartmann Schedel (1440 – 1514)
Sheet size:               28,2 x 40,5 cm
Year:                         1493
Technique:            wood block

Condition:
In good condition. Small repaired tear at the bottom.

This is an original antique engraving published in 1493 and NOT a modern copy or reprint

 

On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity