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La nef des folz du monde : Hommes mortelz qui desirez scauoir Comment on peut en ce monde bien viure Et mal laisser: approchez venez veoir Et visiter ce present ioieux liure A tous estatz bonne doctrine il liure Notant les maulx et vices des mondains Venez y tous et ne faictes dedains Dudit liure nomme Des folz la nef. Si vous voulez vous en trouuerez maintz Au pellican cheux Geoffroy de Marnef.

Title
  1. La nef des folz du monde : Hommes mortelz qui desirez scauoir Comment on peut en ce monde bien viure Et mal laisser: approchez venez veoir Et visiter ce present ioieux liure A tous estatz bonne doctrine il liure Notant les maulx et vices des mondains Venez y tous et ne faictes dedains Dudit liure nomme Des folz la nef. Si vous voulez vous en trouuerez maintz Au pellican cheux Geoffroy de Marnef.
Published by
  1. [Paris] : imprimee pour maistre iehan philippes. Man stener. et Geoffrey de Marnef libraires de paris, lan de grace MCCCCxvii [1497, that is, between March 8 and April 15, 1498]
Author
  1. Brant, Sebastian, 1458-1521

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Available by appointment at Schwarzman Building - Print Collection Room 308

FormatTextAccessBy appointment onlyCall numberSpencer Coll. French 1497+ (Brant)Item locationSchwarzman Building - Print Collection Room 308

Details

Additional authors
  1. Rivière, Pierre, -1499
  2. Locher, Jacob, 1471-1528
  3. Philippi, Jean, active 1494-1519
  4. Marnef, Geoffroy de, active 1489-1518
  5. Baligault, Félix, -1506?
  6. Bocard, André, active 1491-1531
  7. Lambert, Jean, active 1493-1514 or 1515
  8. Verard, Antoine, -approximately 1513
  9. Dürer, Albrecht, 1471-1528
  10. Master of the Haintz-Narr
Description
  1. [6], Cxix, [3] leaves : illustrations; 28 cm (fol.)
Uniform title
  1. Narrenschiff. French (Middle French)
Alternative title
  1. Narrenschiff.
  2. Des folz la nef
Subject
  1. Vellum printings (Printing) > France > 15th century
  2. Folly > Poetry
  3. Woodcuts > France > Hand-colored > 15th century
  4. Bookbinding (Binding) > France > 16th century
  5. Folly in art > Early works to 1800
  6. Allegories
  7. Acrostics (Poetry)
  8. Satirical literature
  9. Incunabula > France > Paris
  10. Fools and jesters in art > Early works to 1800
  11. Occupations in art > Early works to 1800
  12. Woodcuts > France > 15th century
Genre/Form
  1. Allegories.
  2. Satirical literature.
  3. Acrostics (Poetry)
  4. Incunabula – France – Paris.
  5. Woodcuts – France – 15th century.
  6. Woodcuts – France – Hand-colored – 15th century.
  7. Vellum printings (Printing) – France – 15th century.
  8. Bookbinding (Binding) – France – 16th century.
Call number
  1. Spencer Coll. French 1497+ (Brant)
Note
  1. Middle French version of Sebastian Brant's Das Narrenschiff, by Pierre Rivière, based on Jacob Locher's Latin version. See last page of Rivière's "Prolude," where an acrostic beginning with the second stanza names him as "PIERRE RIVIERE DE POICDIERS." Rivière has amplified Brant's original by some 10,000 lines; see "On Pierre Rivière, French 'translator' of Brant's Narrenschiff," by Edelgard DuBruck, in Bibliothèque d'humanisme et Renaissance, v. 41, no. 1 (1979), pages 109-110. Hain erroneously records "maistre Ioce Bade" as translator.
  2. Imprint from colophon (leaf x5 recto), which begins: Cy finist la nef des folz du monde. Premierement composee en aleman par maistre Sebastian brant docteur es droiz. Consecutiuement daleman en latin redigee par maistre iacques locher. Reueue et ornee de plusieurs belles concordances et addicions par ledit brant. Et de nouuel translatee de latin en francoys & imprimee ... (Capitalization, punctuation and spacing as in original.)
  3. Names of booksellers in the colophon transcribed above are capitalized, punctuated and spaced as in the original. "Man stener," sometimes read as one word, occurs in connection with printing or publishing of early printed books only in this colophon. It has been variously interpreted as an otherwise unknown surname of the printer and bookseller Jean Philippi, sometimes surnamed "de Creuzenach" (that is, of Bad Kreuznach, Germany), who is not the printer of this work; as a surname of an otherwise unknown bookseller named Iehan Philippes (Jean Philippes or Philippi); or as the name of an otherwise unknown bookseller who is said to be identical with Mang. (Magn.) Steyner, of the diocese of Konstanz, Germany, student at the University of Paris in 1487-1489. See following notes.
  4. "'Manstener' of the colophon, taken as a surname of Philippi by GW [Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke, published edition], is identified as a German at the Sorbonne by BMC"--Incunabula short title catalogue. See Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum, v. 8, page xxxiii, note 1, and page xxxvi, note 2.
  5. "L'identité de 'Jehan Philippes Manstener,' figurant comme libraire(s) au colophon, avec l'imprimeur parisien Johannes Philippi de Kreuznach ne peut être établie avec certitude. Selon BMC il s'agirait de Johannes Philippi et d'un certain Steyner"-- Bibliothèque nationale (France). Catalogue des incunables.
  6. "The hitherto mysterious 'Man stener' or 'Manstener' of the colophon should evidently be identified with Mang, or Magnus, Steyner, of the diocese of Constance, who was 'nuntius pro provincia Augustensi et Lausanensi' to the English and German 'nation' of the Sorbonne in 1487, and 'nuntius pro diocesi Basiliensi' in 1489"--Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum, v. 8, page xxxvi, note 2; source given is Auctarium Chartularii Universitatis parisiensis, v. 3, 1935.
  7. "En 1497, nous trouvons un volume illustré: La Nef des folz du monde, de Sébastien Brandt ... imprimé pour Jean Philippe Manstener et Geoffroi de Marnef, libraires de Paris. Jusqu'alors on avait attribué sans examen cette impression à Jean Philippe, mais on a confondu Jean Philippe dit Manstener, l'un des libraires pour le compte desquels le livre a été imprimé, avec Jean Philippe de Kreuznach, imprimeur, associé de Georges Wolff. Jean Philippe n'a jamais employé ces caractères, qui sont identiques à ceux dont Jean Lambert s'est servi dans Le chevalier délibéré et les autres livres"--Claudin, page 227.
  8. Imprint given as "Paris: [Félix Baligault?, for] Geoffroy de Marnef and Johann Philippi (Manstener)" by Goff and Catalogue of books printed in the fifteenth century now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and similarly by others; as "Parisiis, Johannes Philippe, Joh. Manstener et Gauf. de Marnef" by Pellechet; and as "Paris, Jean Philippe, Manstener et Geoffroy de Marnef" by Praet.
  9. Printer variously identified as Félix Baligault, Baligault and André Bocard in collaboration, and Jean Lambert. Proctor assigns type to Baligault, but Claudin assigns it to Lambert (see above). Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum lists under Baligault, under the subheading "Doubtful"; see in the Preface, v. 8, page xxxvi: "Seems to have been produced by Bocard and Baligault in collaboration but has here been left under Baligault, although with reservations." See also Proctor, v. 1, part 2, page 594: "[Lambert's] connection with Baligault must have been close, as we find Baligault in possession of his type in 1496, and him in possession of Baligault's device after 1500."
  10. Date from Incunabula short title catalogue. A Latin edition, produced for Marnef at the same time, is dated March 8, 1498; in this, Marnef's device shows less wear than in the French edition. "Probablement daté en ancien style et achevé d'imprimer en 1498 avant Pâques, c'est-a-dire le 15 avril, car le traducteur dit avoir terminé son travail en décembre 1497"--Bibliothèque nationale (France). Catalogue des incunables. The traditional start of the New Year in France during this period (not universally observed) was Easter Day.
  11. Some copies printed on vellum, probably either commissioned or acquired by Antoine Verard to be offered for sale as deluxe copies, illuminated by artists from his workshop. Four copies are known: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Velins-607 and Velins-608; Sächsische Landesbibliothek-Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden, Ink.4114.2; New York Public Library, Spencer Coll. French 1497+ (Brant); all lack some or all indication of Marnef's role as bookseller, and BnF Velins-607 (available online via Gallica), which was presented to King Charles VIII by Verard, has Verard's mark in place of the colophon and has leaf b1 cancelled, with the text on verso beginning "Des bons conseils" copied by hand on leaf a6v, the original text on the latter being omitted. See: Winn, Mary Beth. Anthoine Vérard, 1996, pages 83-84, 120.
  12. Prologues by the French and Latin translators (Rivière and Locher): leaves a2r-a3r. "Prolude de ce present liure" (in verse), by Rivière: leaves a3v-a6r, concluding: "Tant continuay mes escriptz Que finay ou moys de decembre En la grant cite de Paris ... Et fut lan ... Mil quatre cens nonante sept ..."
  13. Signatures: a⁶ b⁸ c-x⁶.
  14. Printed in 2 columns. Bastard type, 42-43 lines.
  15. Illustrations: 117 woodcuts, comprising large cut on the title page; a similar cut, with slight differences, on leaf Cxv; and 115 cuts in the text, including a few duplicates of subjects with slight changes on the blocks. Close copies of those in the original edition of Locher's Latin version (Basel : Johann Bergman, March 1, 1497), most of which were repeated from the original German edition (Basel : Johann Bergman, 11 Feb. 1494); see Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum. Several incorporate letterpress captions. "Illustrations of great interest, the varieties of perennial human folly being portrayed with much humour, and introducing amongst other things representations of trades and occupations of the period."--Fairfax Murray. 78 of the original designs for the Basel German and Latin editions have been attributed to Albrecht Dürer. See: Albrecht Dürer : das druckgraphische Werk / bearbeitet von Rainer Schoch, Matthias Mende und Anna Scherbaum, c2001-c2004, v. 3, pages 86-87 and entries 266.1-266.78. Others are attributed to the Master of the Haintz-Narr, so called after the lettering in one of the prints.
  16. Lombard L at beginning of title; ornamental initials on leaves a2r and a6v. Marnef's device (Renouard, P. Marques typographiques parisiennes des XVe et XVIe siècles, no. 711) on verso of leaf x6v (otherwise blank).
  17. Spencer Coll. copy: Printed on vellum. All cuts, except title page cut, are hand-colored. Rubricated: Initial letters and paragraph marks in red and gold; leaf I with spaces at end of lines illuminated. Last two lines of verse on title page, naming Marnef as the bookseller, have been erased; Marnef's device on verso of last leaf is printed in blind, with some other blind impressions, unidentified.
  18. American reference: leaf LIX verso.
Bibliography (note)
  1. Latin references in side notes, reproducing those of the Basel editions.
Indexed in (note)
  1. Incunabula short title catalogue
  2. Universal short title catalogue
  3. Bibliothèque nationale (France). Catalogue des incunables
  4. Catalogue of books printed in the fifteenth century now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford
  5. Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum
  6. Catalogue of a collection of early French books in the library of C. Fairfax Murray
  7. Claudin, A. Histoire de l'imprimerie en France au XVe et au XVIe siècle
  8. European Americana
  9. Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke
  10. Goff, F.R. Incunabula in American libraries
  11. Hain, L. Repertorium bibliographicum
  12. Knape, J. Sebastian Brant Bibliographie
  13. Library of Congress. Lessing J. Rosenwald collection
  14. New York Public Library. Spencer Collection of illustrated books
  15. Pellechet, M. Catalogue général des incunables des bibliothèques publiques de France
  16. Praet, J. van. Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliothèque du roi
  17. Proctor, R. Index to the early printed books in the British Museum
Additional formats (note)
  1. Also available online via Gallica (vellum and paper copies), Dresden SLUB website (vellum copy) and Österreichische Nationalbibliothek website (paper copy).
Provenance (note)
  1. With manuscript inscription on inside front cover: "Owen Brigstocke Esqr 1734." Brigstocke married Anne, daughter of Dr. Edward Brown, son of Sir Thomas Browne; however, this work is not found in A catalogue of the libraries of the learned Sir Thomas Brown, and Dr. Edward Brown, his son, 1710/11, and was presumably acquired by Brigstocke after the sale. On first front flyleaf: "Robt. Coppin." On second front flyleaf: "Ann Coppin," "Robert Copp," pen trials and scribbling of letters R, C, A, etc., all in an earlier hand; pen trials on back flyleaf, and some early inscriptions, erased.
Binding (note)
  1. 16th(?) century brown calf, gilt. Sides with two fillets formed by an alternating dash and three small rings. The inner fillet encloses a plain oblong panel with a small tool in each corner. Spine with five bands, between which are lines and ornaments formed from small tools; title at top. Repaired at corners, edges and back. Spine split.
Author
  1. Brant, Sebastian, 1458-1521, author.
Title
  1. La nef des folz du monde : Hommes mortelz qui desirez scauoir Comment on peut en ce monde bien viure Et mal laisser: approchez venez veoir Et visiter ce present ioieux liure A tous estatz bonne doctrine il liure Notant les maulx et vices des mondains Venez y tous et ne faictes dedains Dudit liure nomme Des folz la nef. Si vous voulez vous en trouuerez maintz Au pellican cheux Geoffroy de Marnef.
Publisher
  1. [Paris] : imprimee pour maistre iehan philippes. Man stener. et Geoffrey de Marnef libraires de paris, lan de grace MCCCCxvii [1497, that is, between March 8 and April 15, 1498]
Type of content
  1. text
  2. still image
Type of medium
  1. unmediated
Type of carrier
  1. volume
Indexed in:
  1. Incunabula short title catalogue, ib01094000 http://data.cerl.org/istc/ib01094000
  2. Universal short title catalogue, 70940 https://ustc.ac.uk/index.php/record/70940
  3. Bibliothèque nationale (France). Catalogue des incunables, B-763
  4. Catalogue of books printed in the fifteenth century now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, B-510 http://incunables.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/record/B-510
  5. Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum, v. 8, pages 178-179
  6. Catalogue of a collection of early French books in the library of C. Fairfax Murray, entry 66
  7. Claudin, A. Histoire de l'imprimerie en France au XVe et au XVIe siècle, v. 2, pages 227-231
  8. European Americana, entry 497/4
  9. Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke, 5058 http://www.gesamtkatalogderwiegendrucke.de/docs/GW05058.htm
  10. Goff, F.R. Incunabula in American libraries, B-1094
  11. Hain, L. Repertorium bibliographicum, 3754
  12. Knape, J. Sebastian Brant Bibliographie, D517
  13. Library of Congress. Lessing J. Rosenwald collection, entry 439
  14. New York Public Library. Spencer Collection of illustrated books, pages 14-15
  15. Pellechet, M. Catalogue général des incunables des bibliothèques publiques de France, 2827
  16. Praet, J. van. Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliothèque du roi, v. 4, entries 344-345
  17. Proctor, R. Index to the early printed books in the British Museum, 8257
Bibliography
  1. Latin references in side notes, reproducing those of the Basel editions.
Additional formats
  1. Also available online via Gallica (vellum and paper copies), Dresden SLUB website (vellum copy) and Österreichische Nationalbibliothek website (paper copy).
Binding
  1. 16th(?) century brown calf, gilt. Sides with two fillets formed by an alternating dash and three small rings. The inner fillet encloses a plain oblong panel with a small tool in each corner. Spine with five bands, between which are lines and ornaments formed from small tools; title at top. Repaired at corners, edges and back. Spine split. NN
Provenance
  1. With manuscript inscription on inside front cover: "Owen Brigstocke Esqr 1734." Brigstocke married Anne, daughter of Dr. Edward Brown, son of Sir Thomas Browne; however, this work is not found in A catalogue of the libraries of the learned Sir Thomas Brown, and Dr. Edward Brown, his son, 1710/11, and was presumably acquired by Brigstocke after the sale. On first front flyleaf: "Robt. Coppin." On second front flyleaf: "Ann Coppin," "Robert Copp," pen trials and scribbling of letters R, C, A, etc., all in an earlier hand; pen trials on back flyleaf, and some early inscriptions, erased. NN
Local note
  1. Spencer Coll. copy is accompanied by typescript and manuscript material relating to its acquisition (9 sheets), including correspondence of Victor H. Paltsits, chief of the American History Division and Keeper of Manuscripts of The New York Public Library, and a typescript list of the cuts that are based on cuts in the earlier French edition of Josse Badius' Stultiferae naves (La nef des folles), with notes on others.
Place of publication
  1. France Paris.
Added author
  1. Rivière, Pierre, -1499, translator.
  2. Locher, Jacob, 1471-1528, translator.
  3. Philippi, Jean, active 1494-1519, publisher, attributed name.
  4. Marnef, Geoffroy de, active 1489-1518, publisher.
  5. Baligault, Félix, -1506?, printer, attributed name.
  6. Bocard, André, active 1491-1531, printer, attributed name.
  7. Lambert, Jean, active 1493-1514 or 1515, printer, attributed name.
  8. Verard, Antoine, -approximately 1513, bookseller, attributed name. NN
  9. Dürer, Albrecht, 1471-1528, illustrator, attributed name.
  10. Master of the Haintz-Narr, illustrator.
  11. Brigstocke, Owen, 1679-1746, former owner.
  12. Coppin, Robert, former owner.
  13. Coppin, Anne, former owner.
Research call number
  1. Spencer Coll. French 1497+ (Brant)
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