Supplementum chronicarum

Lot 33
28.01.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
ID 1360749
Lot 33 | Supplementum chronicarum
Estimate value
$ 5 000 – 8 000
JACOBUS PHILIPPUS DE BERGAMO. (1434–1520). Supplementum chronicarum. Brescia: Boninus de Boninis, 1 December 1485.

Second edition of Jacobus de Bergamo’s world chronicle, with early reference to Gutenberg, Furst, Jenson and the advent of print. In his edition of Jacobus’ popular history of the world, Boninus de Boninis creates a true timeline with a vertical double-rule along the length of margins interspersed with printed years, showing how the emerging print technologies can communicate information clearly and efficiently and perhaps presaging the movement across the Early Modern period from conceptualising time as cyclical to linear. An entry for 1458 records the beginning of the printing, with reference to Gutenberg, Jenson and Fust, followed by verses in priase of Gutenberg's press: ‘Ars imprimendi libros: his temporibus in Germania primum enata est; quam alii repertam asserunt a Joanne Gutenbergo argentino. alii a quadam nomini Fusto. alii a Nicholao Jensone predicant: Qua certe nulla in mundo dignior nulla laudabilior aut utilior sive divinior aut sanctior esse potuit [...] O felix nostris memoranda impressio seclis inventore nitet utraque lingua tuo: desierat quasi totum quod fundis in orbem nunc paruo doctus quilibet esse potest omnes te summis igitur nunc laudibus ornent te duce quando ars hec mire reperta fuit’ (The art of printing first arose in Germany at this time, which some claim to have been invented by the Strassburger Johannes Gutenberg, some swear by Nicolas Jenson, and others by the name Fusto; though it is certain that nothing in the world could be more praiseworthy, laudable, useful, divine nor blessed).

This copy appears to have belonged to Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, who used his resources in the 16th century to bolster the Counter-Reformation by establishing centres of Roman Catholic learning and worship, such as the Franciscan convent at Dettelbach and the University of Würzburg. HC *2806; BMC VII 969; BSB-Ink I-122; Bod-inc J-088; CIBN J-141; GW M10965; Goff J-209; ISTC ij00209000.

Chancery folio (305 × 195 mm). 381 leaves (of 382, without initial blank). Double-rule timeline along the inner margin of each page, initials in red, blue, or particolored, often over ms. guide-letter, red or blue paragraph marks (repairs in lower margin of first few leaves and gutters repaired in first gathering, scattered mostly marginal wormholes, occasional light stains). Early German 16th-century half blindstamped pigskin over inner-beveled wooden boards (without straps and catchplates, joints repaired, new endpapers). Provenance: some early marginalia in a few hands – Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg (inscription on recto of final leaf: ‘Iussu et authoritate Reverendissimi in Ch[rist]o patris Ac Illustrissimi principis ac D[omi]ni Domini Julii Eipscopi Wirztburg et Francie Orientalis Ducis p. collecta’).
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