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RABANUS MAURUS (784-856). De Laudibus Sancte Crucis. Edited by J. Wimpheling. Pforzheim: Thomas Anshelm, March 1503. 2° (287 x 200mm). Printed in red and black, Roman type, two woodcuts, one of two monks kneeling before the Pope, the other of the author presenting his book to Pope Gregory IV, 30 full-page xylographic and typographic figurative verses, the figures representing Emperor Louis I, Christ, cherubs, crosses, symbols of the Evangelists, etc., woodcut Lombard or Maiblumen initials in red. (Minor repair at extreme upper gutter in last few quires.) Modern dark green morocco, spine lettered in gilt (board edges lightly rubbed).
FIRST EDITION, and one of the earliest books printed at Pforzheim. The remarkable woodcuts are among the earliest examples of figurative verse and were produced by a combination of xylography and typography. The more complicated of the images are entirely xylographic, while others have the figure (and letters within or adjacent to it) cut into wood with the remaining letters set in type; the most simple ones are purely typographic. The verse is printed in conventional format on the page opposite for easier reading, and the second part of the work explains each figure. Preliminary verses and addresses are by Sebastian Brant, Wimpheling, Reuchlin, Georg Simler, and others. Adams R-3; Brunet IV, 1035 ('Edition remarquable à cause de la singulière disposition typographie d'une partie du texte'); Davies, Murray German, 350.
FIRST EDITION, and one of the earliest books printed at Pforzheim. The remarkable woodcuts are among the earliest examples of figurative verse and were produced by a combination of xylography and typography. The more complicated of the images are entirely xylographic, while others have the figure (and letters within or adjacent to it) cut into wood with the remaining letters set in type; the most simple ones are purely typographic. The verse is printed in conventional format on the page opposite for easier reading, and the second part of the work explains each figure. Preliminary verses and addresses are by Sebastian Brant, Wimpheling, Reuchlin, Georg Simler, and others. Adams R-3; Brunet IV, 1035 ('Edition remarquable à cause de la singulière disposition typographie d'une partie du texte'); Davies, Murray German, 350.