The Siege of Constantinople in the Year 1453, from the Nuremberg Chronicle. Woodblock by Schedel, Hartmann; Wolgemuth, Michel and Pleydenwurff, Wilhelm (ills) - 1494

Germany: Anton Koberger, 1494. First edition. Very good condition. Liber chronicarum- Nuremberg Chronicle, an individual page from the Chronicle featuring Constantinopolis or The Siege of Constantinople in the Year 1453, Plate No. CCXLIX This work by Schedel [1440-1514] is an illustrated world history which is based on the Bible, which follows the story of human history related in the Bible and includes the histories of a number of important Western cities. Written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel it appeared in 1493. It is a well documented incunabulum, one of the first to successfully combine illustrations and text. This epic history divides human history into 7 ages. Published and printed by Anton Koberger, the godfather of Albrecht Durer and the most successful German publisher of his day. The woodcut illustrations were made in the workshop of Michael Wolgemut [1434 - 1519], with an unpredcedented number of 1,809 illustrations. These woodblocks include views of cities and towns, battles, kings, and saints. Some images represent actual cities, and other images are purely imaginative. "So much blood was spilled that it ran through the city in rivulets." This print describes the taking of Constantinopole by the Turks. The image is of a large city with water (or blood) flowing from it and around it. The verso has text and three small images of Suncassianus, King of Persia; John Capistrano; Francesco Filelfo of Ancona, and text only of religious man Leonardo de Utino. Approximately 12 x 17 1/4", b & w, ruffled on one edge not affecting text. Very clean.