Hartmann Schedel Auction Prices and Value Guide

Hartmann Schedel auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 643 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Hartmann Schedel auction prices: quick answer

Hartmann Schedel auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Hartmann Schedel
Source records
643
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Hartmann Schedel

Hartmann Schedel (1440–1514) was a German physician, historian, and humanist who lived and worked in Nuremberg. He is best known as the author and compiler of the Liber chronicarum, commonly called the Nuremberg Chronicle, published in 1493. This landmark illustrated world history was one of the most ambitious printing projects of the fifteenth century and among the earliest books to integrate printed maps and city views with narrative text. Schedel studied in Padua and belonged to the circle of Nuremberg humanists. As one of the first cartographers to exploit the printing press, his Chronicle became a major vehicle for distributing geographic and historical knowledge across Renaissance Europe. Collectors today primarily encounter his name through the surviving woodcut leaves and complete volumes of the Chronicle, which remain among the most sought-after incunabula.

Northern RenaissanceGerman HumanismWoodcut illustrationPrinted book (incunabulum)CartographyWorld history and chroniclesCity views and topographyBiblical and classical scenesMaps

Common works and media

The most frequently encountered items at auction are individual woodcut leaves from the Nuremberg Chronicle depicting city panoramas, biblical scenes, historical figures, and world or regional maps. Both the Latin and German editions of the Chronicle were printed in 1493 and are represented in the market. Complete bound copies of the Chronicle appear less frequently but regularly at major auctions. Detached double-page maps, particularly the world map, are among the most valuable individual leaves. Portraits of popes, emperors, and mythological figures from the Chronicle are also common on the market.

Market and appraisal context

The Hartmann Schedel market is anchored almost entirely by the 1493 Liber chronicarum (Nuremberg Chronicle). Appraisily auction records index 70 lots, of which 55 carry realized prices spanning 2002 through April 2026. The price distribution is heavily right-skewed: the interquartile range runs from €100 to €450, with a median of €160, but the recorded maximum of €78,000 reflects complete or near-complete bound copies. Individual woodcut leaves from the Chronicle constitute the bulk of trade and typically realize between €100 and €450, with city views and maps (Constantinople, Breslau, Ulm) tending toward the upper end. Hand-colored examples carry a premium over uncolored leaves. Facsimile editions from the 1990s trade at €80–100, well below original incunabulum material. Liquidity is moderate: 6 lots appeared in the trailing 12 months versus 3 in the prior period, suggesting steady but niche demand. The market is served primarily by European auction houses—Gonnelli Casa d'Aste, Auktionshaus Wersching, Setdart, Karl & Faber, K&K Heidelberg—with occasional appearances at US houses such as RoGallery and Thomaston Place. All lots are catalogued in book/print categories rather than fine art, consistent with Schedel's role as author-compiler rather than visual artist.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Woodcut illustration
  • Printed book (incunabulum)
  • Cartography
  • Old Master Prints
  • Incunabula & Early Printing

Value drivers

  1. [object Object]

Appraisal caveats

  • Schedel is best understood as the author-compiler of the Nuremberg Chronicle rather than the visual artist of its illustrations; collectors should distinguish between works authored by Schedel and works illustrated by associated workshop artists.
  • Attribution of specific woodcuts to Schedel's direct involvement is generally not accepted; he commissioned and compiled rather than designed or cut the woodblocks.
  • Market value is primarily driven by the Nuremberg Chronicle's importance as an incunabulum and its landmark cartographic content, not by Schedel's hand as an artist.
  • [object Object]

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Hartmann Schedel

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Hartmann Schedel worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Hartmann Schedel artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.