Hortus Eystettensis Botanical Engraving

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Price: $2,500.00 USD  - Currency Converter Shipping inside United States: Quoted at time of purchase Shipping outside United States: Quoted at time of purchase

Description: This is an original hand-colored copper plate engraving from Hortus Eystettensis (The Garden of Eichstätt), published by Basilius Besler (1561-1629) in Nuremburg in 1613 (1st edition), depicting the species Malua Rosea. Printed on heavy laid paper with printed description on verso, and species titles on front in Latin. These items come from the collection of Roni Steinberg Sokoloff and resided in her former 63-acre estate in Bedford New York known as Cantitoe Farms. (The estate is down the road from Martha Stewart's home by the same name.) Ms. Sokoloff purchased the engravings from a Manhattan dealer in the early 1980s, and they were framed by J. Pocker & Son, one of the leading framing companies in New York since 1926. Frames measure 25.5" by 29.25" by 1". Prints measure 16" by 20". We have not removed the prints from their frames for inspection. These framed prints are being sold "as is" and we will not dismantle the frames for shipment. This is one of two engravings that remain from Ms. Sokoloff's collection of four engravings. The collection of four were appraised in 1988 by Anton Rudert Jr Appraisals (30 East 42nd Street, New York NY) for $5,000, and we will gladly provide a copy to the buyer.

Additional images gladly forwarded upon request.

Hortus Eystettensis is considered the first great botanical folio of its kind, and included hand-colored engravings depicting roses, tulips, water lillies, iris, peonies, daffodils, vegetables and hundreds more species. The folio was commissioned by Johann Konrad von Gemmingen (c1561-1612), who from 1595 to 1612 served as Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt. The folio was intended to document the contents of his extensive garden, which contained species from throughout Europe, with even some species from Asia, Africa and North America. Basil Besler, a local pharmacist and botanist, created the colored drawing set over a 16-year period while working on site. Six engravers translated his drawings to copper plates, with Wolfgang Kilian the chief among them. The folio depicts over 1,000 flowers from 667 species on 374 plates. The first edition of 300 was published in 1613 and remains one of the most important works of its kind ever produced. Konrad's garden was destroyed in 1634 but was recreated and opened to the public in 1998.

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Status: For Sale	Reference#: rs_069b
Condition: Very Good	Year: 1613

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