Four full-page woodcut leaves from the "Liber chronicarum" (Nuremberg Chronicle)

Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 1493. Paperback. Very Good+. Four illustrated leaves, uncolored (one mounted). 1) One leaf from chapter “Tercia etas mundi” (fol. XXVII) depicting in woodcuts the lineage of Christ (Linea Christi) and the Kings of Egypt (Reges Egipti) and vignette of Joseph interpreting dreams before the Pharaoh. On verso, kings and lineage continued and a vignette of an imaginary view of Athens or Minerva. The earliest obtainable view of this period. Three leaves from chapter “Sexta etas mundi” 2) (fol. CV) depicting authors, Seneca, Lucanus, Persius, and the martyrdom of Apostle Philip. On verso, bust portraits of the Popes Linus, Anacletus, and Appollinaris and the martyrdom of Apostle Bartholomew. 3) (fol. CXL) bust portrait of Euthices hereticus and right portion of view of Strassburg. On verso, bust portraits of Popes Simplicius, Felix, Helasius, Anastasius and bishops, Mamercus and Remigius. 4) Mounted (fol. CCLIII). Verso only visible, circumcision of Simon the Sellig child of Trent. One of the most anti-semitic illustrations of the entire book, Simon of Trent was at the center of a suspicious kidnapping case where the Jewish community of Trent was subsequently severely punished. The woodblock engravers of the famous ‘Liber chronicarum’ were Michael Wolgemut, the famed teacher of Albrecht Dürer, and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff. Recent scholarship has shown that Albrecht Dürer may also have collaborated on this work given his associations, and since some of the cuts bear a remarkably close resemblance to the Apocalypse illustrations. The printing was carried out under the supervision of the great scholar-printer Anton Koberger, whose press was famous throughout Europe. While it is purported that these leaves are all from the same editions they may have come from different disbound copies. Still, an opportunity to own the illustrated pages of this most famous world chronicle. (Size: 18 x 13 in.)