First Edition of The First Illustrated Travel Book.
Including the First Printed Views of Jerusalem and Venice, both Monumental Panoramas.
And Including the First Appearance in Print of the Arabic and Armenian Alphabets.
This Example in Its Contemporary 15th-Century Binding and Fully Complete With No Leaves Supplied.
Breydenbach embarked on a pilgrimage from April 1483 to January 1484, seeking salvation for his soul after leading a seemingly reckless youth. He and two companions began their journey in Oppenheim near Mainz, but the pilgrimage truly commenced in Venice two weeks later. After spending three weeks in Venice, they negotiated passage on a galley and sailed on June 1st, arriving in Jaffa on June 30th.
During their journey to the Holy Land, they visited various locations illustrated in the "Peregrinationes," such as Parenzo, Corfu, Modon, Candia, and Rhodes. They explored major holy sites like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Mount Sinai before venturing to Cairo and traveling down the Nile to Rosetta. They set sail from Alexandria on November 15th, and due to a storm, did not arrive back in Venice until January 8, 1484.
Although Breydenbach is often considered the author of the work recounting this journey, it is possible that the Latin text was actually compiled by Martin Roth, a Dominican from the convent of Pforzheim, who did not participate in the pilgrimage.
Davies, page 9: "First Edition of the German version, printed four months after the first Latin edition, by the same printer, with the same type and woodcuts."
Rarity
Breydenbach's peregrination has been extremely popular since it was first published in 1486. Consequently, when encountered, it almost always has considerable signs of wear (often with significant losses to the folding views) and in later bindings (often dating from the 19th or early 20th centuries). To find a complete example, without supplied leaves, and in a contemporary 15th-century binding, is highly unusual. We see no such copies on the market since the Wardington Sale.
For institutional rarity, see ISTC ib01193000
Davies (page 10) provides the following census statement:
Hain, Repertorium * 3959. Not in Pellechet, Incunables, therefore no copy in French Public Libraries. According to Proctor, Index 157, there is no copy in the Bodleian Library. Pollard, Brit. Mus. Cat. I. p. 44, 1B. 335 (wants view of Jerusalem), IB. 336 (from the old Royal Library, wants all the views). Panzer, Ann. Deutschen Litt. 1788, I. p. 162, records Feuerlein's copy. Dibdin, Bibl. Spencer. VI. p. 87, remarks, "The volume before us, beautiful and perfect in every respect, affords an incontrovertible testimony of the existence of the Mentz edition, printed in the German language." Rylands Catalogue (1899) I. Moser (Serapeum, III.) No. 2, describes the Stuttgart copy as somewhat defective. Schaab, Buchdruckerkunst, I. 524. Voullième, No. 1565 (at Berlin). Muther, Deutsche Bücherillust. No. 640, with reproductions of four of the smaller cuts from this edition ( pl. 148-9).
Bernhard von Breydenbach (1440-1497), Dean of Mainz, authored a preeminent narrative of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which was the first to be printed with views of the places visited en route. Breydenbach demonstrated considerable foresight by employing a talented artist to create accurate and captivating illustrations of the locations from Venice to Mount Sinai. These illustrations greatly contributed to the book's popularity and interest. Initially published in Latin, the book was soon translated into German and Flemish, likely under the Dean's direction. Subsequent editions and translations into other languages were published independently over a 36-year period.
Born into the noble line of Breidenbach-Büresheim, Breydenbach was the son of Gerlach von Breidenbach. In 1450, he became a Canon of Mainz, proving his nobility to the Chapter on October 4. He also held positions as a member of the Ritterstift of St. Alban and the Collegiatstift of Our Lady. Furthermore, he served as a Doctor of Laws, Protonotary to the Apostolic Chair, Chamberlain to the Courts of Justice (1477-1493), and from 1484, the Dean of the Cathedral. Although he was a Canon, it seems that he was not ordained as a priest even by 1483.
Breydenbach's pilgrimage took place from April 25, 1483, to the end of January 1484. On October 1, 1484, he was commissioned by the Pope to transmit the pallium from Rome to the newly-elected Archbishop of Mainz. In the relevant document, he is referred to as the Dean. In 1486, Breydenbach accompanied the Archbishop, to whom the Itinerarium is dedicated, to Aachen for the coronation of Emperor Maximilian I on April 9th. The Archbishops of Mainz traditionally had the right to crown the German Emperors.