File:Stultifera Nauis (24696371769).jpg

The Latin translation of Sebastian Brant's popular humanist work 'Ship of Fools', translated by Brant's pupil Jakob Locher and printed in 1497. Sebastian Brant studied at the University of Basel and earned degrees in Civil and Cannon Law, and then when on to hold a position as city syndic for Strassburg which he held for the remainder of his life. 'Ship of Fools' was originally published in 1494 and was subsequently translated into a number of languages and widely circulated. Brant was persuaded by his friend and fellow publisher Johann Bergman van Olpe to include illustrations in his text to increase saleability. Approximately 2/3 of the 114 woodcuts are attributed to the renowned artist Albrect Durer. Brant's work condemns ignorance as the primary enemy of the ideal society and each of the 112 chapters depicts a different kind of fool. The types of fools depicted include, but are not limited to, those who partake in useless studies, those who hold an obsession with the stars and believe that the future can be read in the constellations, and those who partake in the useless study of medicine from 'herb books'. When Locher translated the text he rearranged the 112 satires according to biblical and classical satire and included extensive references in the form of marginalia. All 114 of the original woodcuts were included unchanged in Locher's translation. Locher is known to have published several works of poetry and prose, as well as several plays, a number of them being published by Johann (Reinhard) Gruninger. Gruninger began printing in 1483 and is considered to be the second most prolific printer in Starssburg with over 170 known titles in approximately 20 different fronts. He printed several works by Brant and Locher, and was among the earliest users of woodcuts in printing.

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