Johann Zainer's Press - with incunable leaf from Germany, 1478-81

Amelung, Peter; Ruth Schwab-Rosenthal, translator; Bernard M. Rosenthal, introduction.
Johann Zainer The Elder & Younger.
Los Angeles: Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc., 1985.

One of 150 copies. A handsome leaf book that documents the life and achievements of 15th century German printer Johann Zainer and his press. The original leaf contained in the book was printed at Zainer's press sometime between 1478-81. It is from Hugo Ripelin's Compendium Theologiae Veritatis. There are also three reproductions of pages from other books from Zainer's press. Bound in blue cloth with cream title label on spine. The text was printed on Mohawk Superfine paper in Aldine Bembo types by Patrick Reagh, Printers. In fine condition. Measures 8.75 x 11 inches. 22 pages. Fine. (#36155)

Price: $250 

Likely from the 4th Edition (1520) of Ship of Fools

Brant, Sebastian; Jakob Locher, translator.
Leaf from Stultifera navis [Ship of Fools].
1520?

Sebastian Brant (1457 - 1521) was a humanist and satirical poet best known for his Das Narrenschiff (1494; The Ship of Fools), the most popular German literary work of the 15th century. Jakob Locher issued the Latin translation, Stultifera Navis, in 1497. Locher's fame was mainly based on his editing and translation of Sebastian Brant's Ship of Fools. It was reprinted several times. This leaf is possibly from the 4th edition published in 1520. With text on verso and text and woodcut on recto. It is known that Albrecht Durer did many of the woodcuts for the original German edition but this illustration is unattributed. Pages are stained and browned. There are two pieces of white tape along the top margin of the first page. One seals a small closed tear. Measures 5 x 7.5 inches. About very good. Very Good -. (#36505)

Price: $90 

Johann Reger's Press - Incunabule Leaf from Germany, 1488
Rhodiorum Historia

Caoursin, Guillelmi.
Incunabula Leaf Woodblock Print.
Ulm, Germany: Johann Reger, 1496

This is a full-page incunabula leaf woodblock print with caption in Latin on paper from the "Rhodiorum Historia or History of Rhodes" by Guillelmi Caoursin which is one of the few incunabula that mentions the Order of St. John. Johann Reger printed it in the German city of Ulm in 1496.

The leaf measures 274 x 194 mm with a 212 x 125 mm print entitled: "Beorius to be Hung." The verso contains 29 lines of Gothic script printed single column in Latin. (Hain 4368). Framed. #2029. Fine. (#27093)

Price: $975 

Coronation of King Besya
Erhard Ratdolt's Press - Incunabule Leaf from Germany, 1488
Hungarian Chronicle

de Thurocz, Johannes.
Incunabula Leaf from the Hungarian Chronicle.
Augsburg, Germany: Erhard Ratdolt, 1488.

An Incunabula Leaf from the Hungarian Chronicle of Johannes de Thurocz, which was the most extensive Hungarian work of this kind dating from the 15th century. The Chronicle was probably made on the impulse of dignitaries who were working in the Royal court of King Matthias Corvinus. Johannes de Thurocz, a member of Turiec a yeoman family, produced it while working from 1475 as a general notary of a regional judge. Erhard Ratdolt in Ausgburg, Germany printed it on June 3, 1488 for Theobald Feger.

There are 8 lines of gothic text in Latin printed single column on paper as well as a 130 x 111 mm woodblock print of the coronation of King Besya. The verso contains 38 lines of the same text with no woodblock print. Beautifully custom framed. #17511. Fine. (#27095)

Price: $1,300

Hand-colored Woodblock Print, 1586
From Le Vies et Alliances des Comtes de Hollande et Zelande, Seignevrs de Frise

Galle, Philippe.
Leaf - Count Adelbertus Bauarici.
1586.

A leaf from Le Vies et Alliances des Comtes de Hollande et Zelande, Seignevrs de Frise. Print method is Wood Block with professional coloring. Print measures 295 x 195 mm or approximately 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Archivally matted. #13063. Fine. (#27220)

Price: $285

Hand-colored Woodblock Print, 1586
From Le Vies et Alliances des Comtes de Hollande et Zelande, Seignevrs de Frise

Galle, Philippe.
Print of the Count Theodoricus Aquintanice from Le Vies et Alliances des Comtes de Hollande et Zelande, Seignevrs de Frise.
1586.

A leaf from Le Vies et Alliances des Comtes de Hollande et Zelande, Seignevrs de Frise. Print method is Wood Block with professional coloring. Print measures 295 x 195 mm or approximately 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Archivally matted. #13038. Fine. (#27223)

Price: $285 

Aldus Pius Manutius's Aldine Press - with incunabula leaf from Italy, 1499
Aldine Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

[Grabhorn Press]
Aldus Pius Manutius; Theodore Low De Vinne, essay.
Aldus Pius Manutius.
San Francisco: Grabhorn Press for The Book Club of California, 1924.

Number 171 of 250 copies. with an original leaf from the Aldine Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, printed in Venice in 1499, numbered 147 in pencil to the top corner. The leaf contains text only. Italian printer and humanist, Aldus Pius Manutius (1449/1452 - 1515) founded the Aldine Press and spent his later years publishing rare texts in their original Greek or Latin forms.

Bound in brown paper covered boards with dark brown cloth spine. Black label on front cover with the Aldine Press device. Gilt title to spine. Printed at the Grabhorn Press on Kelmscott paper in Poliphilus type. Illustrated with decorative headpieces after wood-cuts in the Aldine Hypnerotomachia. Wear and rubbing to edges of boards and spine ends.A few spots of soiling and scuffing to boards. Bumping to foot of spine. Foxing to original leaf along margins, else clean and bright. Unpaginated. [34 pages.] Very Good. (#36872)

Price: $500

[Peter Treveris's Press - England, 1527]
Polychronicon

[Higden, Ranulf].
Printed Leaf from Polychronicon.
[England: Peter Treveris, 1527].

This is probably a leaf from the Treveris printing in 1527 of Higden's Polychronicon. The previous owner's research of this leaf indicated that this is the likely source although he explored other possibilities as seen in his notes. Printed in Early Modern English in double columns. With book number in Latin in upper margin and shoulder notes. There is a handsome decorated five line initial, some underlining in faded ink and two handwritten notes in the left margin of the recto. Aging to the pages, and browning and light chipping where removed from a book. Slight crease to margin bottom. Still very good condition and a nice example of early 16th century printing. Very Good. (#36575)

Price: $70

Heinrich Gran's Press - Incunabla Leaf from 1494 (France)
Postilla Super Libros Sapientiae

Holkot, Robertus (Robert).
Postilla Super Libros Sapientiae.
Hagenau: Heinrich Gran, 1494.

This is a handsome leaf from the press of Heinrich Gran (active 1489–1527). Gran was an Alsatian printer of the incunabular era and was one of the pioneers of book-printing in Alsace. Little is known about Gran's life other than that he introduced printing to Haguenau, then a more important city than today. Between 1501 and 1527 he printed 213 works of mostly theological content. The text of this book was written by English philosopher Robert Holkot (d. 1349). He belonged to the first generation of scholars to absorb and develop the views of famed English philosopher William Ockham. This is a leaf from his most famous Biblical lectures, on the book of Wisdom, associated with Cambridge, and known as the Postilla Super Librum Sapientiae. The leaf is 54 lines and headline, printed in gothic letter in double column, with one red initial. The leaf is generally clean and bright with browning to the margins, light creases on verso, and slight chipping where removed from the book in which it was bound. Very good condition. Measures 8.25 x 11.25 inches. Proctor 3182. Very Good. (#36641)

Price: $120 

Henrick Eckert's Press (Netherlands, 1518)
Fasciculus Mirre

Leaf from Fasciculus Mirre.
[Antwerp: Henrick Eckert van Homberch, 1518].

Fasciculus mirre is a Germanic devotional book that was popular in the Low Countries during the first half of the sixteenth century. The text contains meditations on the life of Jesus Christ, most notably the Passion. This leaf was identified by its previous owner as being from one of the many copies of this book printed in Dutch in the 16th century.The printer, Henrick Eckert van Homberch, having worked in Delft for some five years, moved to Antwerp in 1500 and set up his business in the Huys van Delft. From then on until his death in late 1523 or early 1524 he published at that address a continuous flow of works of quite varied natures — classical authors, romances of chivalry and school books included — though chiefly with a religious content. Printed in 26 lines, with rubrication throughout. Browning and light staining with two small white strips of cloth affixed to top margin. Still a nice example of early Dutch language printing. Measures 3.5 x 5.5 inches. Very Good. (#36625)

Price: $40 

Nicolaus Kesler's Press - Incunable Leaf from Switzerland, 1496
Moralia in Job

Gregorius I. (St. Gregory or Gregory the Great). Moralia in Job.
Basle [Basel]: Nicolaus Kesler [ Kessler], 1496.

A handsome leaf from Moralia in Job, printed by Nicolaus Kessler in 1496. Moralia in Job, also called Moralia, sive Expositio in Job or Magna Moralia, is a commentary on the Book of Job by Gregory the Great, written between 578 and 595. It was begun when Gregory was at the court of Emperor Tiberius II in Constantinople, but finished only several years after he had returned to Rome. [Wikipedia] Nicolaus Kessler was born around 1445 in Bottwar in Württemberg. Around 1471 he received the academic degree of Baccalaureus artium liberalium in Basel. From 1475 he worked as a bookseller for the printer Bernhard Richel and married his daughter Magdalene. He was naturalized in the city of Basel on December 23, 1480. In the same year he became a member of the guild of the key. After the death of his employer Bernhard Richel in 1482, he took over his shop in the Zum Blumen house. In 1496 he became a guild master and thus also a member of the council. He died in 1519.

This leaf is in Latin, printed in double columns with 55 lines and headline in gothic letter. There are three red initials and shoulder reference in black. There is light age toning around the margins and the edge of the leaf is chipped where it was removed from its bound book. A nice example of early printing. Measures 8 x 11.75 inches. Proctor 7690. (#36649)

Price: $120 

Johann Otmar's Press - Incunable Leaf from Germany, 1485
Legenda Aurea

Voragine, Jacobus.
Legenda Aurea.
Reutlingen, Germany: J. Otmar, 1485.

An uncommon incunable leaf from the press of the prominent German printer Johann Otmar. Otmar first worked in Reutlingen from 1482 to 1496 and in Tübingen from 1497 to 1501 . From 1502 to 1514 he worked as a printer in Augsburg. His first Augsburg print dates from October 30,1502. In 1505 he worked together with Erhard Öglin, in 1507 he printed the 13th pre-Lutheran German Bible. He also worked with Hans Burgkmair and Hans Schäufelein to illustrate his prints .After his death, the printing shop was taken over by his son Silvan. The text is taken from Jacobus de Voragine's Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea). Jacobus de Voragine (c. 1230 - 1298) was an Italian chronicler and archbishop of Genoa. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of the Golden Legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was one of the most popular religious works of the Middle Ages [Wikipedia].

This leaf was printed in a double column in gothic letter, with 45 lines and a headline. With browning to paper and stains in the margins. Still a nice example of early printing. Measures 8 x 11.25 inches. Proctor 2708. Very Good -. (#36640)
Price: $150.00  

Johann Schoeffer's Press - Incunable Leaf from Germany, 1532
Romische Historien

Livy (Titus Livius).
Romische Historien [Roman History].
Mainz: Johann Schoeffer [Johannes Schöffer], 1532.

Five leaves from the third German edition of Livy's Romische Historien. The printer, Johann Schoeffer, was the son of early German printer Peter Schoeffer and the grandson of Johann Fust, who was a financial backer of Johannes Gutenberg for the 42-line bible project.

These handsome leaves are in German and printed in Gothic typeface. Each leaf has a large and finely executed woodcut to illustrate scenes of action and drama from Livy's famous history. There four line decorated initials marking a new paragraph or section. The leaves are generally in very good condition. The pages have browning along the margins and some spotting. One leaf has a small tear on its upper margin. There is light chipping along the page edges where they were removed from the book in which they were bound. The pages are numbered XCIX, CXLIX, CLXIII, CCCLII, and CCCLXVI. Very Good. (#36645)

Price: $450

Johann Zainer's Press - Incunable Leaf from Germany, 1474

Berchorius.
Liber Bibliae Moralis.
Ulm: Johann Zainer, 1474.

Two handsome and well preserved incunable leaves from a bible printed in Latin at the press of Johann Zainer. Zainer was the second printer in Ulm, and is documented there with a first printed book in 1473, the Pestordnung by the Ulm city doctor Heinrich Steinhöwel. He further developed book decoration and published the first German translation of a work by Giovanni Boccaccio. Like Günther Zainer, printer in Augsburg, Johann Zainer came from Reutlingen; the two men might have been, or almost certainly were, related. He received his training as a printer in Strasbourg. After an initially successful career, Zainer's business declined after a few years; he was expelled from the city in 1493, probably because of debts, but returned later and resumed printing, albeit only a few books, until 1515 and was mentioned for the last time in 1523 [German Wikipedia].

The leaves are printed in double columns, with 50 lines in a gothic type. There are four red and black three-line initials, one initial in gray and black, and red underlining to mark new paragraphs. The paper is toned and has some darker staining, primarily in the margins but affecting some of text block. Light creasing along margins and pinpricks and slight chipping where leaves were removed from their book. A nice example of early German printing in very good condition. Measures 11 x 16 inches.  (#36633)

Price: $300 

Anton Koberger's Press - Incunable Leaves from Germany, 1497

Seven leaves from Biblia cum postillis Nicolai de Lyra.
Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 1497.

Seven handsome incunabule leaves with the text in Latin of the Psalms that their former owner attributes to the Biblia cum postillis Nicolai de Lyra, printed by Anton Koberger. Koberger (1440-1513) was the German goldsmith, printer and publisher who printed and published the Nuremberg Chronicle, a landmark of incunabula, and was a successful bookseller of works from other printers. In 1470 he established the first printing house in Nuremberg. [Wikipedia]

Printed in black with red initials generally at the beginning of a paragraph. The text of the Psalm on each page is surrounded by double column commentary with 71 lines. Leaves have some browning with darker stains along the page margins. The pages where removed from a bound copy are chipped and torn. The pages are numbered CXXXI, CLXIII, CLXIIII, CLXV, CLXXX, CLXXXI, and CLXXXIII. About very good. Leaves measure 9.25 x 13.25 inches. Very Good -. (#36635)

Price: $300

Ludwig von Renchen's Press - Incunable Leaf from Germany, 1485
Legenda Aurea (Golden Legend)

Voragine, Jacobus de.
Legenda Aurea. Dat duytsche Passionel.
Köln (Cologne): Ludwig von Renchen, 1485.

A scarce German incunable leaf from the press of Ludwig von Renchen. The text is taken from Jacobus de Voragine's Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea). Jacobus de Voragine (c. 1230 - 1298) was an Italian chronicler and archbishop of Genoa. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of the Golden Legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was one of the most popular religious works of the Middle Ages [Wikipedia].

The leaf is printed in double columns with 43 lines of text, which is rubricated. A good copy with browning and some staining. There are small chips along the margin where the leaf was removed from a bound volume. Measures 7.5 x 10 inches. Goff J-171; Proctor 1262. Very Good -. (#36636)

Price: $120 

Incunable Leaf from (1521)
Ciceronis Orationes

M. Tullii.
Incunabule Leaf from Ciceronis Orationes, diligetius recognite, et aptiore serie reposite.
(1521).

This early leaf is from "Liber I." 54 lines on recto with 6 line initial; 54 lines on verso. Antiquated handwritten notes between lines of text in brown ink on recto. Slightly ragged margin where removed from a book (not by us) but in very good condition. Attached to grey stiff paper. Very Good. (#27479)

Price: $75

Hand-colored Woodblock Print, 1598 -  5th Forestier of Flanders
From the Genealogies and Descendants of Ancient Forest and the Count of Flanders

Martin, Cornelius.
Print of The Fifth Forestier of Flanders from The Genealogies and Descendants of Ancient Forest and the Counts of Flanders.
1598.

A leaf of The Fifth Forestier of Flanders and his Squire with shield and falcon, from The Genealogies and Descendants of Ancient Forest and the Counts of Flanders, with a short description of their lives and actions. Print method is Wood Block with professional coloring. Print measures 295 x 195 mm or approximately 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Archivally matted. #12999. Fine. (#27221)

Price: $285 

Hand-colored Woodblock Print, 1598 - 10th Count of Flanders
From the Genealogies and Descendants of Ancient Forest and the Count of Flanders

Martin, Cornelius.
The Tenth Count of Flanders Print from The Genealogies and Descendants of Ancient Forest and the Counts of Flanders.
1598.

A leaf of The Fifth Forestier of Flanders and his Squire with shield and falcon, from The Genealogies and Descendants of Ancient Forest and the Counts of Flanders, with a short description of their lives and actions. Print method is Wood Block with professional coloring. Print measures 295 x 195 mm or approximately 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Archivally matted. #13011. Fine. (#27222)

Price: $285

Includes 1561 Leaf from Chaucer's "Works"

Muscatine, Charles [Geoffrey Chaucer].
The Book of Geoffrey Chaucer. An Account of Publication of Geoffrey Chaucer's Works from the Fifteenth Century to Modern Times.
Book Club of California, 1963.

1 of 450 copies. "Chaucer is the only major English writer whose publication spans the whole history of English printing. Professor Muscatine's account of the making of Chaucer's writing into books begins in the age of the illuminated manuscript and culminates with the superb Kelmscott edition printed by William Morris in 1896. It treats the great early English printers Caxton, Pynson, and Wynkyn de Worde; the obscure but prolific commercial publishers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; Tonson and Lintot in the eighteenth; and the Whittingtons, Pickering, and Morris in the nineteenth ... In an authoritative but lively text, Professor Muscatine describes the books themselves, the changing conventions of typography, the book trade, the relations between printers and publishers, the contributions of successive editors, ant the problem of providing an accurate text. He also gives the first complete account of the woodcut illustrations in the early editions" (prospectus).

Includes an original leaf from the 1561 edition of Chaucer's 'Works.' Prospectus laid in. Red cloth boards with gilt title to spine and gilt illustration to front board. White paint markings to front board. Lengthy penned gift inscription to front free endpaper with book plate of Paul Vincent Balassone. Color frontispiece. Includes many facsimile illustrations. 64 pages. Size: Thin folio. Very Good. (#36388)

Price: $75 

Johann Prüss's Press - Incunabula Leaf from Germany, (1483)
Die 24 Alten oder der Goldene Thron

Otto von Passau.
Incunabula Leaf from Die vierundzwanzig Alten oder Der goldene Thron.
Straussburg: Johann Prüss, (1483).

A Franciscan devotional scripture which translates to "The 24 Elders or the Golden Throne." It was originally written in 1383 and was first printed around 1470 / 80. Text in black with initials and markings in red. 36 lines on recto with one three line initial; 38 lines on verso. In German. (#27475)

Price: $150

Unidentified Latin Early Printed Leaf

Unknown.
Incunable leaf Regum fo.LXI.
n.d.

Early leaf in Latin printed in double-columns on both sides of the page. The heading "Regum" is on one side and "fo.LXI" on the other. With printed shoulder references and four decorated initials. Some browning to edges and a few spots but very good. Gently affixed with two small pieces of tape to inside of a heavy paper folder. 67 lines. 9.5 x 13 inches. Very Good. (#27500)

Price: $85 

Unidentified Latin Early Printed Leaf

Unknown.
Incunable leaf Sermonum Fo.XCVIII.
n.d.

An interesting early printed leaf in Latin with a few handwritten notations. With two handcolored initials in red and several red ornaments and red highlight to first letter of a sentence.On recto, someone has drawn a hand in black ink with finger pointing to text, and on the verso, "Ephes. 5" and "Act 14" are written in margin. Some browning and thin part of lower left margin cut off. Four small tape pieces on upper margins where previously affixed to another paper or board. 53 lines. 8.5 x 12 inches. Very Good -. (#27499)

Price: $75 

Unidentified Latin Incunable Leaf

Unknown.
Incunable Leaf with page heading of Paralipomenon I.

Lovely unidentified Latin incunable leaf printed on both sides with several hand colored symbols and decorations in red and blue ink. Several lines of text are inset within each page. Slight soiling, water staining on two margins but very good. 10 x 14 inches. 77 lines. Very Good. (#27493)

Price: $100 

Unidentified Latin Incunable Leaf

Unknown.
Incunable Leaf with page heading of Psalterium.

Lovely unidentified Latin incunable leaf printed on both sides with several hand colored symbols and decorations in red and blue ink. A few lines of text inset within one of pages. Slight soiling, light creases and small tear on one margin but very good. 10 x 14 inches. 77 lines. Very Good. (#27490)

Price: $100