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History of the Hebrews, by Marcantonio Sabellico – Basel, 1515 – Illustrated Title Page by Urs Graf – Early Leather Binding – Early Handwritten Glosses - Historia Hebreorum [History of the Hebrews], by Marcantonio Sabellico, edited by Johannes Kusthuert. Basel: Adam Petri for Ludwig Hornken, 1515. Latin. Only edition. Title page in black and red, within a fine architectural frame, illustrated with a woodcut produced by Urs Graf – one of the leading print artists of the Swiss Renaissance. The center of the title page features the printer's device of the publisher, Ludwig Hornken of Cologne. The work was edited by Johannes Kusthuert of Weissenstadt, Franconia, who dedicated it to Frederick, Prince-Elector of Saxony. Kusthuert selected and adapted the passages on the history of the Jews from Sabellico's universal history, Enneades sive Rhapsodia Historiarum (first printed in Venice, 1498-1504). The present work is composed of seven books surveying the customs, laws and history of the Jews from Creation to the destruction of the Second Temple, based on the Bible and Josephus. Another work describing Titus' destruction of Jerusalem is printed at its end. Printer's colophon at end of work. Bound with: Exemplorum libri decem [Ten books of examples], by Marcantonio Sabellico, edited by Giovanni Battista Egnazio, with introductory epistle by Beatus Rhenanus. Strasbourg: Mathias Schürer, 1511. Latin with some Greek. Collection of stories, anecdotes and events from the Bible, history and classical literature. The work is meant to provide ethical instruction and rhetorical examples for teachers and students, orators and preachers, historians and authors, as well as readers seeking ethical and practical guidance. First published in Venice in 1507, after Sabellico's death, it was edited by his disciple Giovanni Battista Egnazio. The present Strasbourg edition adds an epistle by the historian and humanist Beatus Rhenanus (1485-1547), addressed to Giovanni Franceso Pico della Mirandola. Early ownership inscription dated 1514 at margins of title page. Printer's colophon at end of work. The author, Marcantonio Sabellico (1436-1506), was an Italian humanist historian active in Venice. He was a member of the learned circle of the printer Aldus Manutius. He was appointed director of the Venice public library, where he was responsible for keeping the rich manuscript collection left by Cardinal Bessarion (which formed the basis for the Biblioteca Marciana). His comprehensive 92-book universal history, Enneades sive Rhapsodia Historiarum, is regarded as one of the most important products of early Renaissance historiography. Two works in one volume. 109, [4], 5-99, 2, [4] leaves (lacking leaves 3-4, with early handwritten replacement covering three leaves). 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Creases and light wear. Minor marginal tears to some leaves. Early handwritten ownership inscriptions, signatures, glosses, emphasis and various notations on endpapers and margins of many leaves. Early leather binding, with meticulous decorations and frames in vegetal patterns; the center of the front binding features an embossed scenes and verses from the New Testament. Pair of fasteners (torn); defects and wear to binding.