Research Catalog

Title

Das Buch der Geschicht des grossen Allexanders.

Author

Leo, Archipresbyter, active 10th century.

Publication

Getrucket vnd vollendet in der loblichen Stat Strassburg : Von Marten Schotten, [10 Dec. 1488]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Hartlieb, Johann, active 1450.
• Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340.

Description

[216] p. : ill.; 29 cm. (fol.)

Uniform Title

Historia de preliis. German (Middle High German)

Alternative Title

• Historia de preliis.
• Buch von Alexander.
• Buch der Geschicht des grossen Alexanders.

Subject

Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C

Genre/Form

• Woodcuts – Germany – 15th century.
• Bookbinding (Binding) – Germany – 15th century.
• Blind tooled bindings (Binding) – Germany – 15th century.

Note

• Translation by Johann Hartlieb of the Alexander romance generally attributed to Leo, Archipresbyter of Constantinople; here attributed to Eusebius. Leo's work, known (from the title of incunable eds. of a principal surviving interpolated version) as Historia de preliis, is principally a translation of a Greek romance, known from a false attribution as Pseudo-Callisthenes. Hartlieb's translation is based on a Bavarian redaction, interpolated from Julius Valerius and Orosius. Cf. Illustrated medieval Alexander-books in Germany and the Netherlands / by D.J.A. Ross. 1971. p. 1-3.
• Leaf a2: Hie nach volget die Hystori von dem grossen Alexander wie die Eusebius beschriben hat.
• Colophon (leaf r7v): Hye endet sich die Hystori Eusebij von dem grossen Künig Alexander, als die der hoch gelert Doktor Johann Hartlieb ... im teütsche transferiert vnd beschriben hat ...
• Imprint from colophon, where date is expressed: An Mitwochen nächst nach Vnser Frawen Tag do sy enpfangen ward, des Jars da man czelet nach Christi Gepurt, M.cccclxxxviij. Jar.
• Hartlieb's translation first published: Augsburg : Johann Bämler, 28 June 1473. Cf. GW 884 (the 1472 ed., GW 883a, is apparently a ghost; cf. Ross, p. 147; Johann Hartliebs Alexander / eingeleitet und herausgegeben von Reinhard Pawis. 1991. p. 75-77).
• Signatures: a⁸ b⁶-n⁶ o⁸ p-q⁶ r⁸.
• 39 lines; type 99. Guide letters. Leaves a2, a3 and a7 bear foliation.
• Illustrations: 28 prints from 25 blocks : woodcut ; full-page (1) and image 10 x 12 cm. or smaller. Comprise full-page hand col. cut on t.p. verso and 24 smaller cuts (3 repeated once). Mirror-reversed copies of cuts appearing in Anton Sorg's 1483 Augsburg ed., which were chiefly repeated or copied from Johann Bämler's 1473 Augsburg ed.; the original cuts were apparently copied from a ms. now in the Pierpont Morgan Library (MS. 782) or a close copy of it. Cf. Ross, p. 150-151.
• Ornaments: 1 print : woodcut, hand col. ; image 6 x 6 cm. Historiated initial S, on p. [3].

Indexed In (note)

• Proctor
• Hain
• BM 15th cent.
• GW
• Schreiber, W.L. Manuel
• Goff

Call Number

Spencer Coll. Ger. 1488 93-230

OCLC

NYPG93-B40500

Author

Leo, Archipresbyter, active 10th century.

Title

Das Buch der Geschicht des grossen Allexanders.

Imprint

Getrucket vnd vollendet in der loblichen Stat Strassburg : Von Marten Schotten, [10 Dec. 1488]

Indexed In:

Proctor 399

Hain 791

BM 15th cent., I, p. 94 (IB 1178)

GW 888

Schreiber, W.L. Manuel, V, no. 3138

Goff A-407

Local Note

Leaf r⁸, blank, wanting.

Binding: Contemporary pigskin, blind-stamped. Tools include a roll with hunting scene (hunter, hound, falcon, doe, stag and net), a roll with inscription "Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum," a rosette in a circle and a paschal lamb in a lozenge; front cover has small central panel tooled with semé of acorns, back cover larger central panel tooled with fleur-de-lis and a saltire. Brass clasp (on back) and catch (on front), both with initials WM (?).

Provenance: Fürstlich Stolberg. Bibliothek Wernigerode (stamp).

Local Subject

Fürstlich Stolbergsche Bibliothek Wernigerode Provenance.

Added Author

Hartlieb, Johann, active 1450.

Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340. Attributed name

Added Title

Buch von Alexander.

Buch der Geschicht des grossen Alexanders.

Research Call Number

Spencer Coll. Ger. 1488 93-230