Bidspirit auction | A 1493 PAIR OF WOODCUT

A 1493 PAIR OF WOODCUT ENGRAVINGS, ECLIPSE AND HALLEY'S COMET OMENS, NUREMBERG CHRONICLE, CLIPPED - Two clipped pages from the Nuremberg Chronicle, one of the most famous of the early incunable printings of Europe and one of the first to successfully combine illustrations and text. Its creation involved the workshop of Michael Wohlgemuth, the mentor of Albrecht Durer, and was published by Anton Koberger, Durer's Godfather. The first shows a darkened sun next to a caption describing an ominous eclipse that occurred in 1448 followed by years of war, plague and earthquakes throughout Europe, along with incursions by the Turks under Mehmed II, such as the fall of Constantinople. The second shows Halley's Comet during its appearance in 1456, mentioning various other omens the occurred including another comet in 1457, a two-headed calf born in Rome, and flesh raining in Liguria among other things. The page also mentions John of Capistrano's crusade against the Turks, a translation of Theophrastus, and a great earthquake the occurred throughout Campania in Italy. Nuremberg, Germany, 1493. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not ship in-house. A list of recommended shippers will be provided. Dimensions: Largest: 4 7/8 x 10 7/8 in., (12.4 x 27.6 cm.) Condition: Very good condition with minor foxing/yellowing consistent with age. Slight crease to leaf with moon. Clipped from full page.