University Library of Bern UB

Old book art – new media

World discovery and world representation

Hartmann Schedel (1440–1514): Buch der Chroniken (World chronicle); Nürnberg: Anton Koberger, 1493. Constantinople after a storm, fol 257r . New buildings on the cityscapes, such as the minarets at Hagia Sophia here, prove that contemporary sources were available even from distant places. Call number: MUE Inc II 11
Hartmann Schedel (1440–1514): Buch der Chroniken (World chronicle); Nürnberg: Anton Koberger, 1493. Mixed news, fol 157v / 158r. Schedel's World Chronicle was the largest printing enterprise before 1500, with over 1,800 woodcut illustrations from 643 printing blocks. Call number: MUE Zesk 3
Isidorus Hispalensis (560–636): Etymologiae; Augsburg: Günther Zainer, 1472. First edition of the first known schematic representation of the world, fol s7v. Biblical assignment of the continents to the sons of Noah: Shem - Asia, Japhet - Europe, Cham - Africa. Call number: MUE Inc III 52
Bernhard von Breydenbach (1440–1497): Peregrinationes in terram sanctam; Mainz: Erhard Reuwich, Peter Schöffer, 1486. Map of the Holy Land with view of Jerusalem, layer y. Description of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land undertaken by Breydenbach in 1483-84 with the artist Erhard Reuwich and other companions. Call number: MUE Bong V 929: 1
Bernhard von Breydenbach (1440–1497): Peregrinationes in terram sanctam; Mainz: Erhard Reuwich, 1486. View of the island of Corfu, fol c3v / c4r. The only depicted place that the pilgrims did not enter was Corfu, because the plague broke out on the island in 1483. Call number: MUE Bong V 929: 1
Christoph Columbus (ca. 1451–1506): De insulis nuper in mari Indico repertis; Basel: Johann Bergmann von Olpe, 1494. Depiction of the landing in the Antilles, fol dd5v. Letter from Christopher Columbus to King Ferdinand of Aragon about "islands recently discovered in the Indian Sea". Call number: MUE Inc III 84: 4