Rolewinck’s Fasciculus temporum

Rolewinck’s Fasciculus temporum
Nicolaus Götz, 1478
ROLEWINCK, Werner (1425-1502). Fasciculus temporum. [Cologne:] Nicolaus Götz, [1478].

Rolewinck’s popular illustrated chronicle—one of the earliest examples of a hypertext. This graphic chronicle utilizes “a system of coordinated circles to locate biblical, classical, and modern rulers and writers in the flow of historical time" (Grafton). Reprinted numerous times in the 15th century, each publisher improved on Rolewinck’s innovative graphic design and added more items to the timeline, bringing it up to date, as here in this sixth edition. Götz had printed a previous, presumably unauthorised, edition; here he follows the text established by Arnold ther Hoernen and uses woodcuts identical to those used by Winter, with the fourth block (a city with 2 gates and 5 towers) cut anew. HC 6922*; BMC I 239; BSB-Ink R-236; Schreiber 5109; Goff R-258; ISTC ir00258000; see also Grafton, Cartographies of Time, pp. 28-31.

Royal folio (365 x 264mm). 73 leaves (of 74, without final blank; tabula bound at beginning). Red initials, capital strokes, and paragraph marks in the tabula and first few leaves; elaborate woodcut diagrams throughout (some toning and staining, repaired tear to top margin of one leaf, some wormholes). Modern red morocco, red edges (scuff marks). Provenance: marginalia, including paragraph expanding the entry for the year 1329 – large textura formata ownership inscription of religious house partially effaced – erased library stamp on first leaf – acquired from Bernard M. Rosenthal, New York, 21 June 1957.