The notes are in the main (and professedly) abridged
from Marsden's, whose text is generally followed, but with the
addition of the historical chapters, and a few other modifications
from the Geographic Text.
1854-57. Voyageurs Anciens et Modernes, &c. Par M. Ed. Charion.
Paris. An interesting and creditable popular work. Vol. ii.
contains Marco Polo, with many illustrations, including copies from
miniatures in the Livre des Merveilles. (See list in App. F.
p. 528.)
1863. Signor Adolfo Bartoli reprinted the Crusca MS. from the original,
making a careful comparison with the Geographic Text. He has
prefixed a valuable and accurate Essay on Marco Polo and the
Literary History of his Book, by which I have profited.
1865. M. Pauthier's learned edition.
1871. First edition of the present work.
1873. First publication of Marco Polo in Russian.
1875. Second edition of this work.
1882. Facsimile of the French Stockholm MS. by Baron A.E. Nordenskioeld.
II. - BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PRINTED EDITIONS.[1]
A. - GERMAN EDITIONS.
1. - 1. Nuremberg ... 1477.
The first translation of Marco Polo's Book was printed in German, at
Nuremberg, in 1477.
Collation: 58 ff. folio without pagination and without signatures.
Verso f. 1: Frontispiece: Portrait of Marco Polo with this
inscription round the border: [Top] Das ist der edel Ritter. Marcho polo
von [right] Venedig der grost landtfarer der vns beschreibt die grossen
wunder der welt [Foot] die er selber gesehenn hat. Von dem auffgang [left]
pis zu dem nydergag der sunne. der gleyche vor nicht meer gehort seyn.
[See p. 555.]
Recto f. 2, begins:
Hie hebt sich an das puch des edeln Ritters vn landtfarers || Marcho
polo. In dem er schreibt die grossen wunderlichen || ding dieser welt.
Sunderlichen von den grossen kunigen vnd || keysern die da herschen in
den selbigen landen | vnd von irem || volck vnd seiner gewonheit da
selbs.
Verso f. 58: Hie endet sich das puch des edeln Ritters und landtfarerz
|| Marcho polo | das do sagt vo mangerley wunder der landt || vn lewt | vn
wie er die selbigen gesehen vn durch faren hat || von de auffgang pisz zu
dem nydergang der sune Seliglich.
Disz hat gedruckt Fricz Creiszner zu Nurmberg Nach cristi || gepurdt
Tausent vierhundert vn im siben vn sibenczigte iar.
[Illustration: Frontispiece of the first German Edition.]
The copy which I have examined is in the Grenville Library, No. 6787.
(Vide Bib. Grenvilliana, Part II. p. 305.) When Marsden edited his
Marco Polo, Grenville did not possess this edition. The only known copy
was in the Vienna Imperial Library, but was without the portrait.
Grenville had made a transcript spoken of by Marsden, pp. lxx.-lxxi.,
which we describe infra. "When Mr. Marsden," says Grenville in a MS.
note at the beginning of this fine volume, "published his translation of
this work, the only known copy of this first German Edition was in the
Imperial Library at Vienna, and I had a literal transcript made from it:
Since that time a second copy was found and sold by Payne and Foss to Lord
Spencer:
