CONSTANTINOPEL

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Nice example of Hartmann Schedel's incunable view of Constantinople from Schedel's Liber Chronicum, perhaps the single most influential secular illustrated book of the 15th Century and one of the landmark printed works of the 15th Century. Schedel's view of Constantinople is one of the earliest obtainable views of the City and realistically the only large format 15th Century illustration available to collectors. Hartmann Schedel's Liber Chronicarum: Das Buch der Croniken und Geschichten (loosely transalated as World Chronicle, but popularly referred to as the Nuremberg Chronicle, based upon the city of its publication), was the first secular book to include the style of lavish illustrations previously reserved for Bibles and other liturgical works. The work was intended as a history of the World, from Creation to 1493, with a final section devoted to the anticipated Last Days of the World. It is without question the most important illustrated secular work of the 15th Century and its importance rivals the early printed editions of Ptolemy's Geographia and Bernard von Breydenbach's Perengrinatio in Terram Sanctam in terms of its importance in the development and dissemination of illustrated books in the 15th Century. Published in Nuremberg by Anton Koberger, the book was printed in Latin and 5 months later in German (translated by George Alt), and enjoyed immense commercial success. Old centre fold strenghtening and repair otherwise a good example. SOLD

code : M2201

Cartographer : Hartman SCHEDEL

Date : 1493 Nuremberg

Size : 23.5 x 53.0 cm.

availability : Sold

Price : Sold

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Hartmann Schedel (13 February 1440 - 28 November 1514) was a German physician, humanist, historian, and one of the first cartographers to use the printing press. He was born in Nuremberg. Matheolus Perusinus served as his tutor.

Schedel is best known for his writing the text for the Nuremberg Chronicle, known as Schedelsche Weltchronik (English: Schedel's World Chronicle), published in 1493 in Nuremberg. It was probably commissioned by Anton Koberger. Maps in the Chronicle were the first ever illustrations of many cities and countries.

With the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1447, it became feasible to print books and maps for a larger customer basis. Because they had to be handwritten, books were previously rare and very expensive.

Schedel was also a notable collector of books, art and old master prints. An album he had bound in 1504, which once contained five engravings by Jacopo de' Barbari, provides important evidence for dating de' Barbari's work.