Metz, France in the Liber chronicarum- Nuremberg Chronicle, an individual page from the Chronicle featuring Metis/Metz/Mediomatricus (France) Plate No. CX

Germany: Anton Koberger, 1494. First edition. Very good condition. This work by Schedel [1440-1514] is an illustrated world history which is based on the Bible, which follows the story of human history related in the Bible and includes the histories of a number of important Western cities. Written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel it appeared in 1493. It is a well documented incunabulum, one of the first to successfully combine illustrations and text.

This epic history divides human history into seven ages. Published and printed by Anton Koberger, the godfather of Albrecht Durer and the most successful German publisher of his day. The woodcut illustrations were made in the workshop of Michael Wolgemut [1434 - 1519], with an unpredcedented number of 1,809 illustrations. These woodblocks include views of cities and towns, battles, kings, and saints. Some images represent actual cities, and other images are purely imaginative.

This print describes the third persecution of the Christians, and the story of the punishment under the ruler Trajan for allegiance to Christ. Pictured is Ignacious, Josephus (Flavius), Eustachius (Eustace) with the deer's head and cross, Stacius, Stella, Marcialis, Junenalis. The verso pictures Metis (now Metz), a city in the northeast of France. The city meets the banks of the Seille and Moselle Rivers, shown in the image as a city surrounded on two sides by water, with many buildings, the grand church Saint-Stephen prominently situated at right. Approximately 12 x 17 1/4", b & w, slt toning overall, very clean crisp images.