Die vier und zwentzig Alten (German).

With large title woodcut (153 x 104 mm plus a narrow border on left) representing St. John before the Almighty and the 24 Elders; an angel on right, and 23 large woodcuts including many repeats, all in contemporary coloring, and initials. Gothic type. 47 lines. 2 cols. (104) leaves. Folio (255 x 200 mm). 19th century vellum. Strasbourg, Johannes Knobloch, 18 Feb. 1508. First German edition printed in the 16th century, and probably the 8th edition in German at all. The first to use this series of illustrations which were subsequently used in five incunabular editions in German. The woodcuts are fine specimens from the editions printed before, and each represents the Soul (in form of a girl) kneeling before an Elder. The coloring is in light transparent shades which does not cover lines of the woodcuts, and is quite probably original. The popular and influential text is a series of treatises upon mystical theology and on morals, under the guise of teachings of the 24 Apocalyptic elders (Revelation IV, 4) for popular use. It was compiled by a monk from Basel around 1386 and first printed in German by Anton Sorg (Augsburg) on 10 March 1480, and later in Dutch. A good copy of an illustrated book from the very fine printing press of Knobloch. - VD 16 O 1442; Weller 430; Kristeller *335; Fairfax Murray (German), 318; Proctor 10060; Muller, p. 120 no. 56. RELIGION / THEOLOGY ; GRAPHIC ARTS:ILLUSTRATED BOOKS ; RELIGION ;