Reissner (Adam) Ierusalem vetustissima illa et celeberrima totius mundi civitas, ex sacris literis et approbaris Historicis ad unguem descripta, first Latin edition, collation: A⁶ A-Z a-z Aa-Hh⁶ Ii⁴ Kk⁶, double-page woodcut bird's eye view of Jerusalem, woodcut illustrations, small repaired tear to final leaf of index, not affecting text, sig Gg and Hh misbound, some foxing and browning, contemporary German blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, with religious scenes in borders and date stamped '1565', original brass clasps and corner-pieces, preserved in modern suede-lined morocco drop-back box, folio (303 x 181mm.), Frankfurt, Georg Raben, Sigmund Feyerabend & heirs of Weigand Han, 1563.

⁂ A superb, unsophisticated copy of the first Latin edition of this important and finely illustrated history of the city of Jerusalem before its destruction, which was published in the same year as the original German edition. This version was never completed and comprises the translation of only the first volume of the original German. Reissner (1496-1575) studied at the University of Heidelberg, taught theology at Strasburg and worked as a chronicler in his hometown of Mindelheim. The abundant illustrations include the wonderful panoramic view and 43 woodcuts by Virgil Solis depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments as well as views of cities and buildings.

Provenance: from the library of a Franciscan convent in Vienna (with engraved bookplate and inscription on title dated 1654).

Literature: VD 16 R1058; Röhricht 708.