Vo[n] einer frawen genant Melusina.

Accession number: 
PML 148
Published: 
Augsburg : Johann Bämler, 7 April 1480.
Description: 
[100] leaves : illus. (woodcuts) ; 27 cm (fol.)
Credit Line: 
Purchased with the Bennett collection, 1902.
Notes: 

Title from incipit (leaf [1]/2r): Das abenteürlich bůch beweiset uns vo[n] einer frawen genant Melusina. die do ein merseÿn un[d] darczů ein geborne künigin. un[d] auβ de[n] berg Awalon ko[m]me[n] ist...
Colophon (leaf [10]/10v): Getruckt und vollendt von Johanni bämler zů Augspurg an freÿtag vor dem weÿssen Suntag Anno d[omi]ni M.CCCC.LXXX. jar.
Colophon date "an freytage vor dem weyssen Suntag" was read by Schreiber as 18 Feb. (Goff). Weiβer Sontag is the Sunday after Easter.
Printed in Bämler's type 1:140G.
Collation: [1-7¹⁰ 8⁸ 9¹² 10¹⁰]: 100 leaves.
Paper format: Chancery folio
Woodcuts and printed initials.
Translated by Thüring de Ringoltingen from the French rhymed version of Couldrette.
Incipit printed in red.
PML copy leaf dimensions: 26.5 x 19 cm, trimmed.

Binding: 
19th-century English gilt-tooled red hard-grained morocco over paper boards (27.5 x 20 cm), sewn on 3 supports. Marbled paper pastedowns and fly leaves, with paper fly leaves; plain endbands; all edges gilt.
Variant Title: 

Von einer frowen genant Melusina

Inscriptions/Markings: 

Hand decoration: Rubrication not required. Annotations: No notations in text. Date 1538 inscribed in frontispiece, with two illegible words (not legible under UV). Manuscript sonnet, ink over graphite, signed by K. Rottmann, 1806: "In billier (bitter?) Qual Raimund die Hände ringet / Da bringt ein Weil ihm wunderbare Freude..." (third front fly leaf verso).

Provenance: 
K. Rottmann,Edward Vernon Utterson (1776-1856), armorial booklabel (front pastedown), [his sales, Sotheby's, 29 April 1852 or 20 March 1857?, not 19 April]; Ambroise Firmin-Didot (1790-1876), booklabel (front fly leaf verso); his sale, Paris, Part I, 6 June 1878, lot 602; Richard Bennett (1849-1930), armorial bookplate (front pastedown) and bibliographical notes: No. 161, 8/5/96 (front fly leaf verso); Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), purchased with the Bennett collection, 1902.
Classification: 
Incunable Collection
Catalog Link: 
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Genres: 
Incunabula
Morocco bindings (Binding)
Inscriptions (Provenance)
Department: 
Printed Books