75 (of 76) leaves, lacking the initial blank. With 46 small woodcuts, mostly city views, & numerous circular genealogical markers, all with early hand-coloring; also, a "T-O" woodcut map representing the world, & several other diagrammatic woodcuts, all hand-colored. (folio) 12x8¼, modern vellum. First Ratdolt Edition, and second Venetian edition.
Chronological history of the world in a double time-line, recording events dated both from the Creation and from the time of Christ. The numerous woodcut views include Noah's Ark, the Temple of Solomon and the Tower of Babel. Several of the woodcuts are new in this edition, and 14 are copied from the first Venetian edition printed by Georgius Walch in 1479. Walch's cuts, based on those in the Cologne editions, are notable for replacing the view of Cologne with a woodcut of Venice, depicting the Piazza San Marco as seen from the Gran Canale. This was the earliest known printed view of Venice. The T-0 map of the world represents the classic Christian view, with Jerusalem at the center, Asia at the top, Europe occupying the lower left quadrant, and "Aphrica" the lower right quadrant. With old rubberstamp of Walter Ashburner, Firenze, to lower margins of the first and last leaves. There are occasional early ink notations in the margina, and on the verso of the final leaf, on which there is no printing, are six lines in Latin dated 1497. Bookplate with initials BL. Goff R-261; BMC V 283; Sander 6526.
Condition:
Lacking the initial blank, as is most often the case with this book. Moderate soiling within, some worming most evident to the gutter margins, with occasional repairs, overall a very good copy of this incunable.