The word incunabula derives from the Latin cuna (cradle), and is used to denote books printed during the infancy of printing in the latter half of the 15th century. The earliest printers were trained in the manuscript tradition and incorporated the conventions of historiated initials and illustrations into their early work. At first they left those spaces blank for the illuminator to complete entirely by hand. Later they developed printing methods (using woodcuts or iron engravings) to decorate the leaves.

Remarkably beautiful paper leaf with two colored illustrations and a fine illuminated initial "S". It is printed in red and black ink, in two columns. A section of music begins at the bottom of the recto and fills the entire verso. This is a great example of early printing with the combination of illumination produced by one of the most famous of the early printers.

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Condition: A+