An illustrated German post-incunable from the Macclesfield Library. This rare imprint by an otherwise prolific printer is an excellent complement to the University Library’s holdings of post-incunabula and works of Classical scholarship. It is only the third known copy, with an impeccable provenance.
Phrygius’ account was first put into print in Cologne prior to 1472 (two copies in the University Library) and a further eight editions were printed before 1500. Several editions were produced in Wittenberg in the early 16th century, firstly by the private press of Nicolaus Marschalk in 1502 (using the same woodcuts as here) and later by Grunenberg, though very few survive; only two other copies are known of the current edition, both in Germany. The Library has copies of four other pre-1550 editions of Phrygius, though none is illustrated.