A scarce original French incunabula - finely printed leaf with woodcut illustration and decorative border. Printed in two columns of 50 lines on laid paper. Size 15.5 x 10 inches – 392x260 mm.
Folio ccxxi from the first edition of Mer des Histoires, published in Paris in 1488 by the early French printer Pierre Le Rouge. (Ref: Goff R-346)
Mer des Histories was an original adaptation in the French language of a Latin text describing the history of France from its origins to the death of King Louis XI, considered one of the most beautiful in the history of French printing. It was one of the earliest printed books illustrated with woodcuts, and was among the very first to use decorative border motifs in imitation of illuminated manuscripts. (Ref: D. McMurtrie, The Book)
This leaf is boldly printed with Le Rouge’s distinctive woodcuts: a full length border cut with drolleries, and a 16 line woodcut of the siege of a castle.
A handsome example of a famous early printing in excellent condition with crisp typography on thick handmade paper. A contemporary reader added three ink “manicules” (pointing hands) to mark important passages!
Shipped unmatted
