n.p. n.p., ca. 15th century. An exquisite manuscript leaf in Dutch written on vellum from the Book of Hours, Use of Utrecht according to research by previous owner. It probably dates from the mid 15th century. The text is 20 lines on each page with three one-line and two two-line initials in red and blue. The lines setting out the margins are faintly visible. With small spot to lower margin visible on both sides of the leaf, a few other minor spots, and a small tear to the bottom of the fore-edge. Slight creasing along the margins. Measures 4 x 5.5 inches. A lovely example of a manuscript written contemporaneously with the development of printing. MANU/041323. Very Good. More

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. More

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. More

[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. EPHEM/052523. Very Good. More

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 EPHEM/061323. More

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. EPHEM/061223. Very Good. More

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. EPHEM/060123. Very Good -. More

[Venice]: [Andrea de Paltasichis & Boninus de Boninis, [1479]. According to documentation from a previous seller, this is a printed leaf from the Opera of Lucius Lactantius. It is a Latin text in early Roman Letter type arranged in a single column format, It is described as a handsome printing of the works of this early Christian convert and is a lovely leaf from an early decade of printed books. Light aging to leaf with darkening and small chips where removed from a bound volume. There are handwritten notes in the margins. Quarto size in very good condition. EPHEM/051723. Very Good. More