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The History Sale 2015
www.adams.ie155
HIC CONTINENTUR PATRIARCHATUS
ARCHIEPISCOPATUS ET EPISCOPATUS
Bamburg: circa 1490. 4to. Twelve leaves. A very good copy,
rubricated in modern calf.
A pre-Columbus discovery of America listing the patriarchates,
archbishoprics and bishoprics throughout the Christian world as
it then existed, and offers the first such printed record of the Irish
dioceses. I would also suggest that it has another claim to recog-
nition as the book that provides the closest link between a work
with Irish material and Gutenberg himself. In that most celebrated
of all publishing law-suits, which preceded the appearance of the
42 line Bible in 1455, evidence on Gutenberg’s behalf was offered
by Heinrich Kefer, one of his master printers. When judgement
was given in favour of Peter Schoeffer, Kefer continued stead-
fast in his loyalty right up to the time of Gutenberg’s retirement
and death and amongst the great books on which he worked at
Bamburg was the 36 line Bible. Only then did Kefer look around
for other employment joining the Nuremberg proto-typographer,
Johann Sensenschmidt who had need of his very considerable
experience and skill. There is no printer’s name on this hierarchical
listing but according to the Gesamtkatalog, the type used supplies
the proof that it emanated from the house of Sensenschmidt.
Sweeney 2312. No copy located on COPAC.
€1,500 - €2,500
156
HOLLINSHED, RAPHAEL / STANYHURST, RICHARD
/ HOOKER, JOHN.
The firste volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and
Irelande .... the description and chronicles of Irelande, .... from the
first originall of that Nation, until the yeare. 1547 - London: 1586
/ 87. pp. (1) [viii], 250, [iii], 202, [xii], 183, (2) 61, 464, [56], (3) [viii],
1592, [58]. One small worming to prelims of volume three, oth-
erwise a fine set in modern full panelled calf in sixteenth century
style. Three volumes. STC 13569.
This pictureless 2nd edition was both enlarged and extended
by John Hooker, alias Vowell and runs to three rather than two
volumes. It can be shown quite conclusively that this was the ver-
sion that was used by Shakespeare in his cycle of history plays,
the evidence including factual misprints not found elsewhere.
Sweeney 2336 quoting the first edition.
€2,500 - €3,500
Lot 155
Lot 156