Accession number
PML 20579
Creator
Beck, Leonhard, approximately 1480-1542, illustrator.
Published
[Augsburg] : [s.n.], [1522-1551]
Credit line
Purchased by J.P. Morgan, Jr., 1917.
Notes
Second edition (first book-format edition) of the woodcuts designed by Beck to illustrate a never completed geneaology of Maximilian I and the Habsburg dynasty. First issued as individual prints, ca. 1515-16.
124 leaves printed on recto only with 1-7 lines of German typographic text above woodcut. Only 89 woodcuts printed, 34 leaves without woodcut and only text. No title page.
Woodcuts measure 23.4 x 21.3 cm.
Signatures: A-V⁶ X⁴: 124 leaves.
Woodblocks now in the Albertina, some cut by Hans Lützelburger, Jost de Negker, Cornelis Liefrinck and others.
Watermark in prints: shield, a bend with 2 six-pointed stars to either side = armorial of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria (see Briquet 1010, dated Austria and Slovenia, 1573-90 and Wasserzeichen-Informationssystem, no. 24006-11, dated Innsbruck, 1543-56).
Morgan copy leaf dimensions: 35.3 x 25.3 cm.
Morgan copy with 6 woodcuts from earlier impression glued-in to incorrect leaf (Sigolina from C5r on C5r, Radegundis from N4r but on G1r, Landrada from H6r but on G2r, Wenceslaus from V3r but on L6r, Guido from D4r but on O4r, Ludwig IX from T5r but on V3r); Sigibertus (leaf L6r) cut out and incorrectly mounted to leaf Q2r.
124 leaves printed on recto only with 1-7 lines of German typographic text above woodcut. Only 89 woodcuts printed, 34 leaves without woodcut and only text. No title page.
Woodcuts measure 23.4 x 21.3 cm.
Signatures: A-V⁶ X⁴: 124 leaves.
Woodblocks now in the Albertina, some cut by Hans Lützelburger, Jost de Negker, Cornelis Liefrinck and others.
Watermark in prints: shield, a bend with 2 six-pointed stars to either side = armorial of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria (see Briquet 1010, dated Austria and Slovenia, 1573-90 and Wasserzeichen-Informationssystem, no. 24006-11, dated Innsbruck, 1543-56).
Morgan copy leaf dimensions: 35.3 x 25.3 cm.
Morgan copy with 6 woodcuts from earlier impression glued-in to incorrect leaf (Sigolina from C5r on C5r, Radegundis from N4r but on G1r, Landrada from H6r but on G2r, Wenceslaus from V3r but on L6r, Guido from D4r but on O4r, Ludwig IX from T5r but on V3r); Sigibertus (leaf L6r) cut out and incorrectly mounted to leaf Q2r.
Description
124 leaves : illustrations (woodcuts) ; 38 x 27 cm (fol.)
Inscriptions/Markings
Pencil inscription, partially erased (by Musgrave or Fairfax Murray?), "This is a Volume of extreme Rarity, it contains many of the Early English Kings or Saints [erasure] It is very singular that among such a Number of Engravings on Wood, no Monogram or Mark of the artist should be found. I do not think they are in Wolgemuths manner as a comparison of the Nuremberg Chronick with this" (front endleaf 1 recto).
Provenance
George Musgrave, 10th Baronet (1799-1872), Edenhall, 1841, inscription including armorial (shield 6 annulets in rows of 3-2-1) (front pastedown); Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919), booklabel (front pastedown), his sale, Christie's, 10 Dec. 1917, lot 36 to Quaritch for Morgan, with collation note (rear pastedown); J.P. Morgan, Jr. (1867-1943), purchased at Murray sale via Quaritch, 1917 (accessioned 1919).
Binding
German (Augsburg) 16th-century blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards. Roll signed "I M" attributed to Jeremias Mair of Augsburg (EBDB w000462, active about 1563; see Haebler, I: 291, nos. 2, 3, and 5). Early Morgan binder identification as Jacob Moller of Wittenberg (see Haebler, I: 291-93). Blank paper bound before and after printed text, watermark: shield of a tri-mount with a cross (measuring |30|30| 28 x 31 mm; see Wasserzeichen-Informationssystem, no. 152681: Augsburg, 1555). The printing, binding, and blank paper used all indicate the region of Augsburg as the most likely location of the binding.
Classification
Catalog link
Department