Errors in the West-European Books of the 15th — 17th centuries (from the Holdings of the Russian State Library)

The article is based on the revealed by the author and first described findings from the collection of foreign early-printed books of the Department of rare books of the Russian State Library. Among these editions there dominate the books belonging to the trophy cultural values received by the Library upon the end of the World War II. There are the Forty-two Line Bible of Johann Gutenberg from the collection of Heinrich Klemm, books from the collection of book-covers of Jacob Krause and his disciples (Dresden). The article discusses not only the early-printed books, but the manuscript of the 16th century from the collection H. Klemm. The author cites the examples of various errors: committed by the masters-rubricators in manuscript decorations of the books, engravings printed upside down, errors in the dates in the text and on the book covers, etc. These errors are the direct evidence of the work of masters on printing and decoration of the books committed due to the various reasons: inattention, haste. They impart to these books the unique individuality.

Book, Book Cover, Manuscript, Inkunabulum, Engraving, Errors, Misprints, the Russian State Library

1. Biblia: Lat. [Mainz, Johann Gutenberg, 1454/1455 — non post 24 Aug. 1456].

2. Solis, Virgil. Biblische Figuren dess Alten Testament. Franckfurt am Mayn, Sigmund Feyerabend, 1562.

3. Brant, Sebastian. Das Narrenschiff (Lat. per Jacobum Locher). Lyon, Jacques Sacon, 1488 [i. e. 1498].

4. Biblia : in dialecto Germaniae inferioris. Köln, Bartholomaeus von Unckel, pro Johann Helmann, Arnold Salmonster et Anton Koberger, ca 1478/1479.

5. Ovidius Naso, Publius. L’Epistole d’Ovidio. Venetia, Giovanni Battista Ciotti Publ., 1587.

6. Baronio, Cesare. Martyrologium Romanum… Roma, Dominici Basae Publ., 1586.

7. Weller, Hieronymus. Hausstafel des Catechismi ausgelegt. Leipzig, durch Valentin Babsts Erben, 1562.

8. Mirus, Martin. Drey Leichpredigten uber den seligen Abschied des… Herrn Avgvsti, Hertzogen zu Sachsen… Churfürsten etc. welcher den 11. Februarij… im 86. Jare… Jtem eine Leichpredigt bey dem Begrebnüs der… Fürstin… Anna… Churfürsten… welche den 24. Martij seliglich zu Dresden entschlaffen. Dresden, Matthes Stöckel d. Ä., 1586.

9. Mirus, Martin. Drey Christliche Leichpredigten uber den seligen Abschied der Durchlauchtigsten… Fürstin und Frawen Anna… Hertzogin und Churfürstin zu Sachsen… Dresden, gedruckt durch Matthes Stöckel, 1586.

10. Kress, Carolus. Kunstbuch (manuscript). Nürnberg, 1568.

11. Leben S. Pauli und S. Antonii. Strassburg, Bartholomaeus Kistler, 1498.

12. Meior, Georg aus Nürnberg. Homiliae, Wittenberg Ioannes Lufft, Peter Seitz und andere, 1562—1564.