farfel_n02_017_070

Augusburg. A characteristic feature of the Augsburg pres-
ses was their early and successful attempt to amalgamate
letterpress and illustration, or rather to continue the tradition
of the illuminated manuscript in the novel medium of print.
It is not wihout signifigance that the first printer - Gunther
Zainer, probably trained in Mentelin's shop in Strasbourg
- was called to Augsburg by the abbot of SS. Ulric and Afra,
which had for a long time been the seat of a famous scrip-
torium. By its side the abbey was set up a press which pro-
duced three large-scale books of moral instruction in 1472-6.
From 1475 Anton Sorg, origionally a Briefmaler who had
learned printing in Zainer's shop, worked on the abby
premises. He soon turned to the publication of vernacular
texts, first biblical and theological, but from 1480 to his death
in 1493 mainly historical and travel books. These include
Marco Polo's and Breydenbach's realistic descriptions of the
Near and Far East as well as the fabulous exploits of St
Brandan and John de Mandeville, and above all the history
of the Council of Constance by Ulrich von Richental, magnifi-
cently illustrated with forty-four woodcuts
53
Time we find them in use as
ornamented initials. This type
in this form is obviously Sorg's own
creation, but it was never
imitated by any other printer.
He printed to this type down to
the end of 1477 + during that
printed it was his only Type.
-Sorg was one of the 1st printers
who made use of a large
type to pick out the headings
of the chapters, column titles + the like.
b. Issuy in Wittenberg. Dominican. d. Nuremberg.
Johannis Nidu- theologian, was educated at Colman, Vienna + later
at cologne. He gained a wide reputation in Germany as a preacher
and a reformer, + was active in he Councils of Constance + Basle.
-prolific writer who adhered strictly to the principles of
St. Thomas
-One of Nidus's most important works.
In the Preceptorium he gives a careful interpretation of the
10 commandments for confessors + preachers. Contains many chapters
of judicial interest, on antnacts, peymy, trade + fraudulent
trade practices + also chapters on sorcery, necromancy + witchcraft.
-a treatise fo moral theology arranged according to the 10 commandments.
Sorg's and book.
4th ed of this famous treatise on moral theology. printed in the
same Types as the Speculum Historiale of V de Beauvais printed
in 1494 at the monestery of SS Ulrich + Afra; it was here along to
G Zainer that Sorg had begun printing, + it is likely that his
earliest productions were all arranged by Melchion von
Stamhaim, the abbot of the monestery