RUDIMENTUM NOVITIORUM -description of the holy land ORIGINAL INCUNABULA LEAF PRINTED IN 1475!!!!!!!!

                                   A VERY RARE EARLY LEAF FROM WHEN PRINTING WAS JUST 24 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!

                                   THIS LEAF COMES FROM THE FIRST BOOK IN HISTORY TO CONTAIN PRINTED MAPS!!!

This leaf was printed in Lubeck,Germany by Lucas Brandis on the 5th of August 1475.it is from the first edition.The leaf is printed in two columns with red paragraph marks and initial decoration.A large ,8 line,lombard initial begins the leaf in red and blue inks.The leaf is folio size and measures 387mm x 287 mm.

The Rudimentum Novitiorum (A Handbook for Beginners) is a monumental world history or chronicle for students compiled from the Bible,the church fathers,pagan mythology and other compilations such as that of Vincent of Beauvais.It contained Buchardus de Monte Sion's travels in Armenia,Palestine and Egypt in the 13th century.His report of the Holy Land is particularly detailed.This leaf is from Buchardus' travels and begins with the first division of what he calls "australis" and the town of Caypha etc.

Lucas Brandis used a round gothic type for his works and it was regularly used and copied in the northern regions of Germany.Today it is known as the Brandis type,so named after it's creator.

The Rudimentorum Novitorum is his most notable work although he did print many other titles up until 1499.Because of the volatile nature of life in the middle ages with wars,plague and famine constantly rapping at the door and the ability to read mostly confined to just the nobility and clergy,Brandis,like many other of the early printing pioneers,was bankrupt after he printed his last title in 1499.Nothing is known about his life or whereabouts or what became of him after 1500.He probably did not live long into the 16th century.Today he is an honorary member in the pantheon of German literary heroes.

Ideal for framing and a great gift idea.

RECTO OF LEAF

VERSO OF LEAF