Ierusalem vetustissima

A fine example, in an attractive contemporary binding, of the first edition in Latin of this important illustrated history of Jerusalem, prior to its destruction by the Romans.

Adam Reisner (1500-1572), a German mystic and poet, was the pupil of Johann Reuchlin, a German humanist and prominent scholar of Greek and Hebrew. Reisner taught theology for many years and wrote historical and theological works, including an 'anti-papal history.' He later made a name for himself as a writer of hymns.

This is one of Reisner's most important works, in which he describes the city of Jerusalem in detail, with all its holy landmarks. He paints a picture of 'Heavenly Jerusalem,' in stark contrast to what he sees as the 'Satanic Babylon' of the corrupt papacy. For Reisner, a supporter of the Protestant reformer Caspar Schwenckfeld, Jerusalem represents a community of true believers, in constant battle with the Antichrist of Rome. With constant of historical events to selected Bible passages, Reisner eventually comes to the conclusion that Judgement Day has indeed arrived.

The lovely woodcut illustrations by Virgil Solis were taken (or possibly copied) from the Luther Bible, published in 1560 by the Frankfurt publisher Sigmund Feyerabend. This edition is a translation of the first volume of the German edition, published in the same year and entitled Ierusalem, die alte Haubtstat der Juden. We could not find any bibliographical evidence that the second volume has ever been translated and published (in spite of such claims in the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie).