"Constantinopel", Schonsperger, Johann

This rare woodcut depicting Istanbul is one of the earliest available views of the city and was published in the reduced version of Hartman Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, sometimes called the mini-Schedel. Largely an anachronistic view, it provides an early record of several major cultural monuments, including numerous mosques and the Justinian Column. One of the interesting aspects of the view is the inclusion of several large windmills located within the impressive city walls. A large ship in the foreground represents the city's strategic location on the straits of Bosphorus. On a double sheet of German text (15.7 x 11.0"). The adjacent page and verso include engravings of religious portraits. Much rarer than the folio version, this is a fine example of this charming incunabula map.

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Condition: B

A nice impression with minor soiling in the image, a rust stain in bottom right corner, and a small chip at right that has been professionally repaired, with minor loss of image. Trimmed to neatline at right, as issued. There are a few binding holes along centerfold, as is typical.