The Celebrated “Ship of Fools” by Sebastian Brant, with more than 70 Woodcuts by Albrecht Duerer
Brant, Sebastian. Stultifera navis (= Ship of Fools). Translated by Jacob Locher.
Basel, Johann Bergmann, August 1, 1497.
118 large woodcuts in the text by Albrecht Dürer (c. 74-78), the "Master of the Haintz Narr" and two other collaborators.
163 fol. (foliated I-CLIX, four leaves not), complete (last leaf, blank, lacking).
Small quarto. Later brown calf leather binding, spine and covers blindstamped.
An Iconic Work of Satire and Human Folly
This rare incunable, one of the most influential literary and artistic works of the late Middle Ages, is a powerful satirical allegory on human folly, warning against the vices of ignorance, greed, and moral corruption. It is a copy of Sebastian Brant’s Stultifera navis (“The Ship of Fools”), printed on August 1, 1497. Originally written in vernacular German, Brant’s scathing satire of human folly was later translated into Latin by the humanist Jacob Locher, making it accessible to a broader European audience.
The work is notable for its exceptional artistry and the cultural impact it had across Europe. Brant’s work inspired countless adaptations, from Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly to literary works across the continent. It stands as a cornerstone of Renaissance thought, illustrating the moral and intellectual shifts of the period.
Among its 118 captivating woodcut scenes — at least 74 by Albrecht Duerer — one depicts a Foolish Boatman hilariously struggling to steer his ship while completely disregarding the clear directions—a vivid representation of misguided leadership that resonates even today. Another illustration features a Book Fool, who sits atop a pile of books yet reads none, poking fun at those who accumulate knowledge but fail to apply it. The manuscript also showcases a Drunken Fool, indulging in wine and embodying excess and lack of restraint, creating a humorous tableau of folly. Lastly, we encounter a Fool with the Lute, merrily playing his instrument out of tune, symbolizing vanity and ignorance of one’s own shortcomings.
This particular copy is the first printing of the extended Latin edition, following the first (shorter) Latin edition of March 1, 1497. The four leaves with signature ∫: De fatuis sagittariis (On the Fools of Archers) and a newly designed woodcut, taken from the edition of March 1, 1498 have been added to this copy: this combination is very rare.
Watch the Video:
Sebastian Brant’s “Ship of Fools” of 1497
Provenance and condition: Copy with contemporary marginalia and annotations throughout by Jodocus Bredebach (signature on leaf 2), brown spotting at the beginning and towards the end, very good impressions of the magnificent woodcuts, altogether a thoroughly respectable, very good copy (title remargined).
Literature: GW 5061. Hain-C. 3750. Schreiber 3571. Schramm XXII, 47.
On Duerer: Schoch-Mende-Scherbaum III, no. 266 III.
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