Folio, (280 x 187 mm). 207 leaves (of 210, without three blanks *1 and 6 and x6): ff. [4], CCIII. Leaf a1, Das erst blat bound at front, before the four leaves register. Rubricated throughout, woodcut initials painted red. With numerous large woodcut Maiblumen initials and 55 woodcuts from 54 blocks by the Ulm Zamorensis Master and the Master of the Ulm Boccaccio, a few woodcuts partly coloured red. A large copy preserving some deckle edges. Occasional slight browning, some marginal damp- staining, red initials bleed through pages, repaired wormholes on last few leaves. Contemporary dark brown calf over wooden boards, tooled in blind, a rosette stamp points perhaps to an Augsburg workshop (Kyriss workshop 90 = EBDB w001512). Only the upper cover, however, bears the original leather, considerably rubbed, other cover material renewed; former bosses and clasp missing; endpapers new, old bookplate window-mounted.

The chapters on secular estates include chapters on emperors, kings, princes, courtiers, heralds, nobility, knights, military, marriage, judges, provosts, advocates, notaries, farmers, various crafts and trades, and the liberal arts. The clerical estates comprise popes, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, prelates, priests, deans, cantors, sextons, canons, and monks. For today’s readers, the work thus provides rich information on the life and cultural history of the Middle Ages. This is the second German edition.

The Spanish author, Rodrigo Sánchez de Arévalo (1404-1470), was castellan of the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome and bishop of Zamora/Spain (1465-1467; hence his name in Latin: Rodericus Zamorensis). More than twenty editions of the popular didactical treatise followed soon after the first edition (printed by Sweynheim and Pannartz in 1468). Most editions were in Latin, but there are German, French, and Spanish translations as well: most of these, however, were not illustrated. The first illustrated edition appeared in German in 1476, this is the second appearance.

The Ulm humanist and town physician Heinrich Steinhöwel (c. 1411/12-1479) completed the translation by 1474; his original manuscript is preserved in Munich (BSB, cgm 1137). He replaced Rodrigo’s dedication by his own, addressed to Duke Sigismund of Tirol. Steinhöwel is well known for his translations of Latin and Italian literature into German, for instance, Aesop’s Vita et fabulae, Petrarch’s Griseldis, and Boccaccio’s De claris mulieribus.

The printer and publisher Johann Bämler shortened the German translation, particularly in the first two books, and omitted the dedication in his publication.

Illustration:

In outlining the benefits and obligations of the secular and religious stations of man, Rodericus treats a wide variety of professions and trades, including medicine, law, husbandry, mechanics, mercantile trade, mathematics, and astronomy, as well as numerous noble and clerical occupations. Woodcuts depict, for example, farmers working in the fields (f. LXI), the wool trade with spinners and weavers at work (f. LXXIIIv), physicians treating a patient with his injured leg (f. LXXXVI), astronomy represented by scholars in a landscape observing the stars and using an astrolabe (f. LXXXXVIIIv), and many more.

Because of its fine illustration, the first German edition was regarded one of the most attractive of Zainer’s books, and Bämler made use of the same blocks for the woodcut illustrations of the present edition. On stylistic grounds, however, the woodcuts are related to Ulm work rather than to Augsburg. At least two designers were responsible for the illustrations. Six cuts were attributed to the Master of the Ulm Boccaccio (Weil 1923, pp. 27ff.); the large part is by the Zamorensis Master, named for this work.

“Unlike other illustrations published at Augsburg, the woodcuts are nearly related to Ulm work, and the fact that Steinhöwel lived at Ulm and edited various books published in that town renders it probable that the blocks were executed by an Ulm artist in touch with Steinhöwel, and sent to Günther Zainer for printing. There were undoubtedly two designers engaged in these illustrations. Some thirteen or fourteen blocks (i. e. ff. 1a, 3a, 8a, 9a, 48b, 50a, 53a, 63b, 65b, 66b, 69a, 83a, 99b, 135b) are somewhat more grotesque in their convention than the rest, with a tendency to parallel lines of drapery, and very definitely lined features (...) The remaining small cuts are by a more genial, though not more gifted, illustrator; inclining to a less angular style, and to slightly fuller use of parallel shading” (Hind, p. 291ff on the 1476 edition).

After Bämler had reprinted the cuts in the present edition (omitting only two referring to the House of Habsburg and Austria), the blocks went to Lyon to appear in a 1482 French edition by Nicolaus Philippi and Marcus Reinhard (Le Miroir de la vie humaine), and then in a 1491 Spanish edition by Paul Hurus in Saragossa (Spejo dela vida humana).

Fine provenance:

Rarity:

This second edition in German is even scarcer than the first: ISTC notes only fifteen copies worldwide, two of which in the United States. The book is also extremely rare in commerce: none of all three German editions are listed in ABPC (1975- 2015).

Arnim, Schäfer, 1984, no. 286; Hain 1826, 13949*; GW M38507; ISTC ir00232000; Goff 1964, R-232; Oxford, Bod-Inc R-093; Klebs 858.2; Schreiber no. 5103; Schramm III, p. 20 and 26. and II, figs. 699-754 (G. Zainer); Weil, Ulmer Holzschnitt, 1923, 27 ff. and 107, note 47 (the artists in detail); Schmid, Augsburger Einzelformschnitt und Buchillustration, 1958, p. 43.