• PRINTED CYPRUS INDULGENCE, 31 LINES. [Mainz: Johann Gutenberg] 1454

Collections:
  • Incunabula at Princeton
  • Early Manuscript & Printed Fragments
  • In Principio
  • Historical Beginnings
  • Collections Donated to Princeton University Library
  • The Scheide Library
  • Treasures of Rare Book Division
Curatorial Note:
  • Chappe presented the papal Cyprus Bull to the Archbishop of Mainz in the summer of 1453, but the archbishop delayed almost a year before allowing its proclamation in his province. In the late summer of 1454 Chappe contracted with Gutenberg to print the indulgence forms in great quantity. A well-constructed small type was created for the purpose, and presumably thousands of such forms were printed, an output far beyond the capacity of scribal copying. This small fragment records that it had been issued in Erfurt on 22 October 1454: the earliest firm date we possess for the existence of European printing. The 31-line Indulgence text was kept standing in type for some months under the control of the indulgence officials, who had additional copies printed as the campaign progressed. The last valid date of sale was 30 April 1455. In later impressions the year date was changed from “Mccccliiii” (1454)to “Mcccclv” (1455). This well preserved copy, with updated “Mcccclv”, was issued in Würzburg on 13 April 1455. The 31-line Indulgence is a notably handsome product, with three metalcast initials and, for titling, Gutenberg’s large, formal gothic type in a well-finished state. For thousands of pairs of eyes, the 31-line Indulgence would have been their first encounter with typography. The text type, found only in this Indulgence, presumably was melted down as the campaign drew to a close, to prevent the possibility of printed forgeries.
Bookseller:
  • Maggs Bros
Author:
  • Catholic Church. Pope (1447-1455 : Nicholas V).
Provenance:
  • Provenance: Heidelberg University; acquired November, 1933.
Former owner:
  • Universität Heidelberg
Abstract:
  • The so-called 31-line Indulgence provides the earliest precise date for European typography. Its text is a plenary indulgence granted by Nicholas V for contributors to the defense of Cyprus against Turkish siege. The text leaves blank spaces on lines 18 to 21, to be eventually filled in with the name of the purchaser, and the place and date. The second, fragmentary copy of the 31-line indulgence in the Scheide Library was issued in Erfurt, 22 October 1454, to Margaretha Kremer and her son Johann. Since Erfurt lies several hundred kilometers east of Mainz, the indulgence form itself must have been printed at least several days before that. The titling of the 31-line indulgence is set with the DK type; the text type appears only in this indulgence; there are also three initial letters, which appear to be cast in metal. The term limit of the indulgence was the last day of April, 1455, and a considerable number of the surviving copies were issued during the last days of the campaign. The Scheide Library's complete copy was issued on 29 April 1455 in Pfullendorf (Baden-Württemberg, 25 km north of Lake Constance) to Johannes Grosshans of Schaffhausen. It was preserved as pastedowns in a binding on four incunables of the early 1470s in the library of the Cistercians of Salem, which after the dissolution of that convent in the early nineteenth century was sold to Heidelberg University. The university removed and sold the indulgence as a duplicate around 1930. A surprisingly large number of copies -- 46 -- survive of the 31-line Indulgence, including many preserved as binding waste. Almost all copies were sold within the extensive archdiocese of Mainz. Several months later, a 30-line edition of the same indulgence was printed in Mainz. Its titling type is that of the Gutenberg Bible; its text type is unique to this edition; its three initials are different from those of the 31-line Indulgence. Only nine copies (including two lost in World War II) survive, none in America; most were issued within the archdiocese of Cologne, the earliest recorded date of issue being 27 February 1455. All copies of both editions were printed on vellum.
Creator:
  • Catholic Church. Pope (1447-1455 : Nicholas V).
Language:
  • Latin
Call number:
  • 113.3
  • Electronic Resource
Extent:
  • 1 vellum leaf ; 21 x 26 cm (oblong broadside).
Format:
  • Book
Type:
  • Early works to 1800
Description:
  • Printed on vellum.
Publisher:
  • [Mainz : Johann Gutenberg], 1455.
Subject:
  • Indulgences—Early works to 1800
Title sort:
  • Indulgentia.
References:
  • Goff N-48.
Contributor:
  • Nicholas V, Pope, 1397-1455
Created:
  • 1455-01-01T00:00:00Z
Date:
  • 1455
Identifier:
  • ark:/88435/d217qp581
Location:
  • WHS 113.3
  • WHS Electronic Resource
  • ELF1 113.3
  • ELF1 Electronic Resource
Edm rights:
  • No Known Copyright
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