Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514). Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 12 July, 1493.

Folio (16 x 11 inches). 327 RUBRICATED leaves (including leaves CCLIX-CCLXI blank, except for foliation and headline, of 328, lacking last blank leaf), 63 lines plus headline, Gothic letter, rubricated capitals, xylographic title-page (small repairs to verso), 645 woodcut illustrations by Wilhelm Pleydenwurff (d. 1494) and Michael Wohlgemut (1434-1519) repeated to a total of 1809, some full-page, others double-page, double page map of the world (Shirley 19) and double-page map of Europe, 5 leaves of "De Sarmacia" bound after folio [CCCII, blank] (top corners renewed to folios CCLXII-end with occasional loss to text, top edges close cropped with occasional loss to headline and foliation, some heavy dampstaining, a few marginal tear crossing the image at folio LXXXVI, map of Florence, lacking the final blank). 16th-century German pigskin over boards, covers decorated with panels of blind roll tools and the supra libros of Sebastian Freitog, brass catches and clasps (a bit rubbed and soiled, lacking central brass bosses and cornerpieces).

Provenance: Supra libros of Sebastian Freitog dated 1581, and ownership inscription on the verso of the title-page dated Lucca Abbey, 1575; inscription of Lucca Convent library on first page of text; early library inscription at the head of the title-page partially obscured; 18th-century penciled ownership inscription at the foot of the title-page partially erased.

"AN ASTONISHING FEAT OF ARTISTRY AND COMMERCIAL NOUS... REGARDED AS A LANDMARK IN BOOK PRODUCTION" (Susannah Helman).