Moscoviter wunderbare Historien and Turckische Historien de Herberstein, Sigmund Von and Menavino, Giovanni Antonio - 1567

MENAVINO, Giovanni Antonio (1492-after 1514). Türckische Historien. Frankfurt: [Thomas Rebarts and Kilian Hahns, 1570]. [Bound with:] HERBERSTEIN, Sigmund Von. Moscoviter wunderbare Historien. Basel: heirs of Niclauß Brillinger and Marc Russinger, 1567 Two rare 16th-century German-language descriptions of Turkey and Russia, containing important maps and illustrations.

2 volumes in one, folio (317 x 200mm).

I. Second edition in German, general title printed in red and black, 2 part titles both dated 1563, part 1 with 12 woodcut medallion portraits in the text and blank E4, part 2 with 2S7 errata leaf and blank 2S8, part 3 with final blank 2i8 present (general title with corner repaired and 7 words and date in manuscript facsimile, some marginal tears and chips notably to leaves h2-3, k4-6, m4 in pt 1, 2G5 with loss to catchword, 2N1 with corner chipped, and leaves 3R4 and 2S2 with tears into text affecting a couple of letters in pt 2, staining and browning throughout with loss of a few words to leaves a6-b1 in pt 1, 2L3-4 heavily spoiled and browned in pt2, and quire 2M in pt 2 heavily browned). See Blackmer 1112 (note); Gollner II, 1264.

II. Second edition in German, translated by Heinrich Pantaleon, woodcut device on title with full-page woodcut portrait on verso, 2 double-page woodcut maps of Muscovy, double-page woodcut plan of Moscow, 6 woodcut illustrations in the text (complete, without the folding portrait of Ivan Vasilievich which was found in a single copy sold at auction in 1991 and is not described in any of the copies held institutionally, a couple of marginal tears to first woodcut map two of which slightly extending into image but without loss, tiny marginal hole to a4, small marginal chip to c3 affecting manuscript marginalia, short marginal tears to h3, i5, o2 and t2 just into text, marginal chip to m2 with associated 120mm tear extending into text but without loss, 70mm marginal tear to m5 extending into text again without loss, quire n with small marginal burn mark with associated chip at top edge, some browning and staining throughout). Karrow 40/4.5, 41/.46 and pp.584-586; Nordenskiöld III, 497. Contemporary German blindstamped pigskin, spine in 5 compartments with raised bands (worn, lacking brass cornerpieces, clasps defective, small splits at head- and tail of spine at upper joint, top and bottom raised bands rubbed and slightly defective, small hole in central spine compartment). Provenance: contemporary ink inscriptions on front free endpaper and title – two small pieces of ink marginalia on c2-3 in second work.