The Story of the Three Kings: Melchior, Balthasar and Jaspar [which originally was written by John of Hildesheim in the fourteenth century and is now retold by Margaret B. Freeman]

by Margaret B. Freeman (retold by), John of Hildesheim (author), with woodcuts from the fifteenth century (unknown illustrator[s])

"A 'best seller' in the Middle Ages, John of Hildesheim's wonder-filled account of the Christmas story and the further adventures of hte Three Kings went into many translations and editions, and was among the first books to issue from the newly invented printing presses. Here it is engagingly retold by Margaret B. Freeman, Curator Emeritus of the Clisters in New York City, and illustrated with forty-five fifteenth-century woodcuts.

"John of Hildesheim was a prior of the Carmelite order, and a learned and well-traveled man. He was the first to gather into one book the many legends and traditions surrounding the well-loved medieval saints, Balthasar, Melchior and Jaspar. [Margaret] Freeman uses as her primary source a Middle English text of 1399, retaining all the liveliness and grave of its language. An appendix includes historical information on John of Hildesheim, his book, and his influence on nativity scenes in art" (quoted from front flap of dust jacket).

Condition: dust jacket repeats cover design on illustrated boards, slight browning on jacket on spine and its edges and near top edge, and small chip at crown of jacket spine, else a tight, crisp, fine copy in a near fine jacket, in protected mylar (removed for photo to avoid glare). 

Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), 1978. Reprinted.
ISBN: 0-87099-180-9

Seller image, Heather Thomson Bookseller