Temple of Solomon as depicted in the context of the time as a medieval church complete with cross, from the first letterpress edition of Speculum humane salvationis (Augsburg, 1473). From the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.

Temple of Solomon as depicted in the context of the time as a medieval church complete with cross, from the first letterpress edition of Speculum humane salvationis (Augsburg, 1473). From the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.

Detail map of Augsburg-Innenstadt, Augsburg, Bayern, Germany,Binnenstad, Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands Overview map of Augsburg-Innenstadt, Augsburg, Bayern, Germany,Binnenstad, Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

A: Augsburg-Innenstadt, Augsburg, Bayern, Germany, B: Binnenstad, Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

The First Printed Editions of the "Speculum humanae salvationis"

1466 to 1471
Blockbook edition of Speculum humanae salvationis (The Netherlands, c. 1466-67). From the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.

Blockbook edition of Speculum humanae salvationis (The Netherlands, c. 1466-67). From the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.

A medieval manuscript bestseller, the Speculum humanae salvationis was also a bestseller during the first fifty years of printing, undergoing four blockbook editions (two Latin and two in Dutch) and sixteen editions printed from movable type by 1500. 

According to the British Library Incunabula Short Title Catalogue (ISTC), the first printed edition of the Speculum humanae salvationis was a blockbook printed in The Netherlands about 1466-67. This edition, cited by the ISTC as is00656000, has also been recorded as "printed in Utrecht? by the Printer of the 'Speculum humanae salvationis, not after 1471." In November 2013 a digital facsimile of this blockbook was available from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek at this link.

The first edition of the work printed from movable type was an edition in Latin and German printed in 1473 by Günther Zainer of Augsburg as Speculum humanae salvationis cum speculo S. Mariae Virginis, edited by Frater Johannes, of the monastery of SS. Ulrich and Afra of Augsburg. (ISTC no.  is00670000.) In November 2013 a digital facsimile of this edition was available from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek at this link.

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