The rare variant state of Johannes Magnus’ Historia, 1554

Johannes Magnus:

Gothorum sveonumque historia.

Roma, apud Ioannem Mariam de Viottis Parmensem in Aedibus S. Birgittae, 1554 (colophon). Folio. (29,5 x 19,5 cms.) 60 pp. (incl. final blank and woodcut title) + 792 pp. (incl. final blank, bound first in the final gathering). Colophon on page 789. Full-page printer’s device on leaf E5v and on page 790, full-page woodcut map of Scandinavia on page 14, woodcut papal arms on title, numerous woodcuts in text.

Old or contemporary full vellum, lightly worn and soiled, ties perished, manuscript title on spine. Leaves B5 and D1 each with a minute hole and loss of a few letters, leaf E5 torn at foot in the margin without loss, two leaves with insignificant corner loss (paper flaws), text unaffected. Text fine, with just some insignificant occasional spots and marginal dampstains.

Woodcut map very fine with margins on all sides.

Lindberg, Swedish Books, 17. Collijn 2:210-16 (esp. p. 214). Cf Adams M657. First edition of Johannes Magnus’ History, posthumously published by his brother Olaus Magnus. The variant dedicated to dukes Erik, Johan, Magnus and Karl, which opens with a woodcut title.

.