Dyalogus Johannis Stamler Augustn. De Diversarum Gencium Sectis et Mundi Religionibus. [au colophon on lit :] Impressum Auguste : per Erhardum oglin. & Ieorgiu Nadler Cura correctone et diligentia venerabilis domini Wolfgangi Aittinger pspiteri Augusten. Ac bonarum Artium zc. Magistri Colloniens Anno nostre salutis 150. & . 8. die. 22. mensis May. Zc. [i.e. 1508].

Augsburg, Oeglin et Nadler, 22 mai 1508.

Folio [308 x 212 mm], (1) bl.l., (3) ff. with the frontispiece and the title, ff. numbered 2 to 32, (2) ff. of index, (1) bl.l. Pale waterstain in the margin of 5 ff. A tear without loss at the frontispiece. An owner's stamp in the margin of the frontispiece. Bound in 16th Century limp vellum, handwritten title on spine.

Rare first edition of the earliest work relating to the religions of the varied nations of the world.

Graesse, Trésor de livres, p. 477 ; Sabin 90127 ; Brunet, supp. II, 685; Harrisse 51 ; Historical Nuggets 2603.

The present text is also of the highest interest as it contains a passage mentioning the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus.

" A dramatic composition relating to the religions of the Tartars, Saracens, Turks, Jews and others, and their confutation. The American interest is found on the verso of the third leaf, in a letter from Stamler to Joseph Lorcher, dated, "13. klas Junii Anno. 6." which is translated by Harrisse as follows: "I do not make any mention of the newly discovered islands, but of Christopher Colom, the discoverer of a world, and of Albericus Vespucius: On the discovery of the new world (to whom our age is chiefly indebted) behold what treatise I send you." See Harrisse, B.A.V., n°51. The elaborate woodcut title page was engraved by Hans Burgkmaier, and is repeated on the reverse of the leaf".

(Sabin 90127).

" An extremely rare and curious Drama described on the leaf following the title as 'Dyalogus in modum comici dramatis formatus a J. Stamler de Tartarorum, Saracenorum, Turcorum, Judeorum et Gentilium Sectis et Religionibus ac eorundem Confutatione, &c.' The letter from Stamler to Jacob Lorcher, dated 13 Kal. Junii 1506, is of the highest interest to American collectors, as he mentions by name Christopher Columbus and Albericus Vespucius as the discoverers of the New World. The Drama has a marginal Commentary, which is important not only to theologians as pointing out heresies, but also to the astronomer. Stamler seems to have been an enemy to judicial astrology."

(Harrisse).

This work is also the first book to be illustrated by Hans Burgkmair. The superb frontispiece, here in the first state, represents the varied religions, Pope Julian II and the Emperor Maximilian I. This engraving is only present in the first edition.

" The woodcut was used only in the first edition, of which twenty-five copies have been located so far." (Elizabeth M. Nugent, PMLA, 1938, 'Johannes Stamler's Dyalogus', p. 989).

Only 25 copies of this first edition were known in 1938.

A beautiful copy of this rare work preserved in its 16th century limp vellum.

Français :

Augsburg, Oeglin et Nadler, 22 mai 1508.

In-folio de (1) f.bl., (3) ff. avec le frontispice et le titre, ff. numérotés 2 à 32, (2) ff. d'index, (1) f.bl. Pâle mouillure en marge de 5 ff. Déchirure sans manque au frontispice. Cachet d'appartenance dans la marge du frontispice. Relié en plein vélin souple du XVIe siècle, quelques taches au plat inférieur, titre manuscrit au dos.

308 x 212 mm.

Rare édition originale du premier ouvrage traitant des religions et des croyances des divers peuples du monde.

Graesse, Trésor de livres, p. 477 ; Sabin 90127 ; Brunet, supp. II, 685; Harrisse 51 ; Historical Nuggets 2603.

Le présent texte est également du plus haut intérêt car on y trouve un passage concernant la découverte de l'Amérique par Christophe Colomb.

"Livre rare, dans lequel sont contenus XIV 'Dramata'; il y est fait mention de l'Amérique, au chap. intit. : 'De Insulis nuper inventis et moribus populorum inauditis'. " (Brunet).

" An extremely rare and curious Drama described on the leaf following the title as 'Dyalogus in modum comici dramatis formatus a J. Stamler de Tartarorum, Saracenorum, Turcorum, Judeorum et Gentilium Sectis et Religionibus ac eorundem Confutatione, &c.' The letter from Stamler to Jacob Lorcher, dated 13 Kal. Junii 1506, is of the highest interest to American collectors, as he mentions by name Christopher Columbus and Albericus Vespucius as the discoverers of the New World. The Drama has a marginal Commentary, which is important not only to theologians as pointing out heresies, but also to the astronomer. Stamler seems to have been an enemy to judicial astrology." (Harrisse).

Le présent ouvrage est également important car il s'agit du premier livre illustré par Hans Burgkmair. Le superbe frontispice en premier tirage représente, outre les différentes religions personnifiées, le pape Julien II et l'empereur Maximilien Ier. La gravure à pleine page porte les armes de l'auteur et est reproduite au verso du même feuillet. Elle n'est présente que dans l'édition originale.

Hans Burgkmair (1473-1543) est, avec Holbein l'Aîné, le plus important peintre du début du XVIe siècle à Augsbourg (Bavière) et l'un des graveurs sur bois les plus célèbres du XVIe siècle en Allemagne. L'artiste diffusa grâce à ses gravures les conceptions artistiques de la Renaissance à Augsbourg.

" The woodcut was used only in the first edition, of which twenty-five copies have been located so far." (Elizabeth M. Nugent, PMLA, 1938, 'Johannes Stamler's Dyalogus', p. 989).

Le nombre d'exemplaires de cette édition originale était donc estimé à 25 en 1938.

Bel exemplaire de cet ouvrage rare, conservé dans son vélin souple du XVIe siècle.