The Dance of Death by Hans Holbein, with an Introductory note by Austin Dobson [Later Edition Zaehnsdorf Fine Full Leather Binding]

Hans Holbein Austin Dobson

Editore: London: George Bell and Sons., 1898

London: George Bell and Sons, 1898, Later Edition. A beautifully bound small volume by Zaehnsdorf with gilt and blind tooled boards and spine, mild rubbing to the joints, inner gilt dentelles, the binder s stamp in gilt to the base of the front of the front paste down, pages tanned with some foxing. With 43 pages of text in English followed by 41 plates which were present in the first edition followed by another 7 plates Added in Later Editions . The Dance of Death was composed by Hans Holbein the Younger between 1523 and 1525; the woodcuts were eventually collected in book form in 1538 by the Trechsel brothers, who had hitherto specialised in expensive works in Latin so there was already a precedent, of considerable vintage, for this book of illustrations to be released by a publisher of classic texts. Renowned for his Dance of Death series, the famous designs by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497 1543) were drawn in 1526 while he was in Basel. They were cut in wood by the accomplished Formschneider (block cutter) Hans Lützelburger. William Ivins (quoting W. J. Linton) writes of Lützelburger's work wrote: "'Nothing indeed, by knife or by graver, is of higher quality than this man's doing.' For by common acclaim the originals are technically the most marvelous woodcuts ever made." These woodcuts soon appeared in proofs with titles in German. The first book edition, containing forty-one woodcuts, was published at Lyons by the Treschsel brothers in 1538. The popularity of the work, and the currency of its message, are underscored by the fact that there were eleven editions before 1562, and over the sixteenth century perhaps as many as a hundred unauthorized editions and imitations. Ten further designs were added in later editions. Pagination: 43pp, with a copy of the 1538 title page, followed by XLIX plates. Provenance: bookplate for W. Forbes Morgan (Mayfair) to the front paste down. Approximately 4 ¾ inches tall (12cm). Condition Report Externally Spine very good condition gilt titles and gilt and blind tooled decorations to the spine with raised bands, minor wear, marks and scratches. Joints very good condition gently rubbed and worn with some loss of colour. Corners very good condition gently worn. Boards very good condition full leather with gilt and blind tooling to the boards, minor marks and scratches. Page edges good condition all edges gilt, top edge faded and dust darkened. See above and photos. Internally Hinges very good condition sound. Paste downs very good condition marbled, gilt tooling to the leather turn-ins, bookplate. End papers good condition marbled, subsequent papers tanned. Title good condition tanned. Pages good condition tanned with some foxing. Binding very good condition attractive. See photos. Publisher: see above. Publication Date: 1898 Binding: Hardback. Codice articolo ABE-1710186946899

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Titolo: The Dance of Death by Hans Holbein, with an ...
Casa editrice: London: George Bell and Sons.
Data di pubblicazione: 1898
Legatura: Hardcover
Condizione: Very Good