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catalogue

Gregor Reisch, Margarita Philosophica, Spatial Dimensions, Edition 1504

Leaf of the Margarita philosophica, a general encyclopedia written by Gregor Reisch between 1489 and 1496 in Latin and first published in 1503.

Our sample was edited in March 1504 and printed by Johann Schott, a student of Gregor Reisch.

The sheet is from Chapter VI, which deals with geometric solids and their properties.

To illustrate the three dimensions of space, the author chooses the image of a naked man pierced by three spears, standing for length (longitudo), width (latitudine) and depth (profunditate).

The concept of the naked man to illustrate facts was later taken up by Leonardo da Vinci in his famous study on human proportions.

Beautiful late Gothic style.

Freiburg or Strasbourg, edited in 1504 AD

19.7 cm (7.8 in) x 14.3 cm (5.6 in)

Clear print on laid paper with part of a watermark (ox head with Tau cross). Red markings at the beginning of each paragraph. Paper lightly browned and fingerstained; barely trimmed, with no loss of text.

120 USD
 

Literature: Peter F. Tschudin. «Oberrheinische» Ochsenkopf-Wasserzeichen des 15. Jahrhunderts. Riehen 2012.
Gerhard Piccard. Die Ochsenzeichenwasserzeichen I Teil. Findbuch II, 1 der Wasserzeichenkartei Piccard im Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart. Stuttgart 1966.