Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) was published in two editions, Latin and German, both in 1493, appearing in print just before Christopher Columbus' discoveries completely re-shaped the European view of the World. This splendid work presented the history of the world in a pictorial encyclopedia with approximately 285 pages of text and 1,800 woodcut illustrations. Among these illustrations are views of towns and cities throughout Europe and the Near East. The majority of these views are entirely imaginary. In fact, 49 of the views are actually printed from the same group of 14 woodblocks. There are also 30 double-page views of cities with more realistic images. In addition to the topographical images, there are an enormous number of other subjects, including diagrams of the Creation, comets, family trees, portraits & biblical scenes. The text was compiled and edited by Hartmann Schedel, printed by Anton Koberger, with illustrations designed by Michael Wohlgemuth and Willem Pleydenwurff, who cut the woodblocks, probably with the assistance of their apprentice, Albrecht Durer.

Two leafs with Latin text.

A. Folio CCVIII, hand color. This sheet includes full-length portraits of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis and an image of a thunderstorm on recto. On verso are the portraits of 3 Popes: Honorius the Third, Gregory the Ninth, and Celestine the Fourth.

B. Folio CCXIII, black & white. The verso shows the portraits of Pope Urban the Fourth, Pope Clement the Fourth, and Bernard of Compostela, a priest and doctor. The verso also illustrates a comet that appeared in the year 1263. The recto depicts the portraits of Saint Peter, the tyrant Ezzelino III da Romano, Cardinal Hugo, and Manfred, King of Sicily.

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Condition: B+

Very light soiling.