Sturm, Caspar. Die Kleyn Furstlich Chronica. Nuremberg: 1544.
First and only edition of Die Kleyn Furstlich Chronica, a rare and comprehensive historical work chronicling the rise and fall of the world’s four great monarchies, from the dawn of civilization to the decline of the Roman Empire. Illustrated with over 80 woodcut portraits of prominent historical figures, including Julius Caesar and Jesus Christ, this edition offers a vivid glimpse into the historical consciousness of the 16th century.
One of only two known copies in private hands, this remarkable volume has been rebound in a rare 17th-century antiphonary leaf—one of the three liturgical books used for the Divine Office—adding to its historical and aesthetic significance. Tanning to many pages, nearly complete (lacking 1 final leaf at the end) and unrestored. The book remains in excellent condition for its age, with a firm and beautifully preserved binding.
Kaspar Sturm (1475–1553), born in Oppenheim, initially worked in law before serving as an emissary for the Nuremberg Council, reporting on political affairs of the Holy Roman Empire. A close associate of Martin Luther, Sturm played a pivotal role in ensuring Luther’s safe passage to the Diet of Worms in 1521, an event commemorated in the stained-glass windows of St. Catherine’s Church.
This copy is a significant rarity, with WorldCat identifying only a handful of institutional holdings across Europe and none in the United States outside of the two copies recently acquired. After nearly 500 years, this volume remains a vital artifact of Reformation-era scholarship and historiography.
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