Johann Koelhoff, 1499

COLOGNE CHRONICLE – Die Cronica van der hilliger stat van Coellen. Cologne: Johann Koelhoff, the Younger, 23 August 1499.

First edition of the first history of Cologne. The Cologne Chronicle contains a famous passage on the history of printing, which claims to be based on the account of Ulrich Zell, Cologne's first printer, who learned the art at Mainz in the 1460s. It discusses a precursor ("Vorbyldung") of printing coming in Netherlands which in later centuries was seized on as important evidence by those who believed Haarlem, not Mainz, to be the birthplace of printing. The City Council objected to certain passages in it and forbade distribution, resulting in its printer Koelhoff being forced to sell his house in order to cover the printing costs. To mitigate the Council's objections, some passages were excised and revised. The present copy has these passages in the early state according to GW. Goff C-476; Bod-inc C-201; BMC I 299; BSB-Ink C-284; GW 6688.

Median folio (321 x 220mm). 355 leaves (of 368, lacking first two gatherings containing first title and register, without final blank). Woodcut illustrations, some full or double-page (title leaf browned, soiled, and laid down with repairs; last leaf of first gathering remargined at gutter, some worming in text at ends, small marginal repairs throughout occasionally touching text, staining and soiling to some leaves throughout, final gathering remargined at gutter with soiling and repairs, half of leaf aa1 torn away with early manuscript facsimile). Contemporary blindstamped quarter calf over wooden boards, brass catches (rebacked in the 18th century with Jesuit stamp and roll tools on spine, cracked rear board repaired, lacking straps). Provenance: extensive marginalia in German and Latin.