Catalog Archive
Auction 192, Lot 592

"Thyberias oder Thyberiadis die Stat", Schonsperger, Johann

Subject: Tiberias, Israel

Period: 1500 (circa)

Publication: Liber Chronicarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
5.6 x 3.5 inches
14.2 x 8.9 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

The verso of this sheet contains an imaginary view of the ancient Palestinian city of Tiberias, with four woodblock portraits on recto. On a sheet of German text measuring 8.3 x 12.3". This leaf is from a rare reduced edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle, that is often called the Mini-Schedel or the Augsburg Chronicle.

Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, published in 1493, presented the history of the world in a pictorial encyclopedia. Among the illustrations were views of towns and cities throughout Europe and the Near East, and an enormous number of other subjects, including diagrams of the Creation, comets, family trees, portraits & biblical scenes. The folio Chronicle was very expensive and thus Johann Schonsperger, who specialized in reprints, saw the opportunity to publish a smaller and less costly version. He published German versions in 1496 & 1500 and a Latin version in 1497. These are often referred to as pirated editions because they were published without the consent of Schedel or the original printer, Anton Koberger.

References:

Condition: A

Nice impression on a bright sheet with a medallion watermark and minor marginal soiling.

Estimate: $140 - $170

Sold for: $100

Closed on 4/26/2023

Archived