Hartmann Schedel

Discover Hartmann Schedel’s Weltchronik, a groundbreaking illustrated encyclopedia and one of the most ambitious books ever printed in Europe. With more than 1,800 intricate woodcuts, this complete facsimile reproduces a rare hand-colored copy in exceptional detail. Accompanied by insightful essays, this extraordinary volume offers a rich portrait of the biblical, historical, and cultural world of the 15th century.

Time Machine to the 15th Century

1493’s history book and city guide by Hartmann Schedel

Hartmann Schedel’s Weltchronik, or Chronicle of the World (better known today as the Nuremberg Chronicle, after the German city in which it was created), was a groundbreaking encyclopedic work and at the time the most lavishly illustrated book ever printed in Europe. 

Both a historical reference work and a contemporary inventory of urban culture at the end of the 15th century, the Chronicle was to have a remarkable influence on the cultural, ecclesiastical and intellectual history of the Middle Ages. It was particularly notable for its more than 1,800 woodcut illustrations depicting events from the Bible, human monstrosities, portraits of kings, queens, saints and martyrs, and allegorical pictures of miracles, as well as views of a great number of "modern" cities, many of which had never been documented before.

Today, copies of the Chronicle sell for up to 200,000 Euros; we’ve procured a rare hand-colored copy, true to the original in every respect, and created a complete facsimile of utmost quality. For readers who don’t read Old German, this edition includes summaries of the main stories, making it easy to navigate and fully appreciate this remarkable historical work.

The editorStephan Füssel is director of the Institute for Book Studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, and holder of the Gutenberg Chair at the same university. He has published prolifically on the early days of printing, the sale and publication of books between the 18th and 20th centuries, and the future of communications.Hartmann Schedel. Chronicle of the World 1493Hardcover, quarter-bound, 17 x 24 cm, 1.67 kg, 740 pages