ID 992810
Lot 278 | BLEULER, Johann Ludwig (1792-1850) and Alois SCHREIBER (1763-1841)
Estimate value
£ 30 000 – 40 000
Ouvrage représentant en 70 à 80 Feuilles les vues les plus pittoresques des Bords du Rhin depuis ses sources jusqu‘à son embouchure dans la mer. Schaffhausen: Bleuler, [c. 1843]
An exceptionally fine copy of this monumental album, with the plates extremely finely painted and heightened in gum arabic, of the picturesque landscape along the Rhine river engraved by Johann Ludwig Bleuler, after views by Alois Schreiber. The work was issued in 20 parts comprised of four plates, each with an engraved illustrative explanation or key to the views, all present here. Both artists had travelled extensively along this stretch of beautiful countryside painting landscapes and making studies. Schreiber had done so in 1791, thereafter publishing Picturesque Views of the Rhine from Mainz to Düsseldorf (1806), an account which is considered a forerunner to Karl Baedeker's travel guides, and Bleuler between 1817 and 1818. In 1824, Bleuler established his own publishing company at Schaffhausen, and, beginning in 1827, worked on a sequence of prints featuring the landscapes of the Rhine, from its origins in the glaciers of the Alps, eventually publishing the complete suite in about 1843. His aquatints, which were all exceptionally coloured by hand, were known for the Old Masters-like effect he could create using gouache techniques; the highlighting of the foregrounds in gum arabic gives a remarkable sense of perspective. Extremely rare complete with all 80 plates; we have located no copy at auction (RBH). Bobins V, 1703.
Oblong folio (304 x 428 mm). Engraved title with small vignette at centre, 80 aquatint plates, finely coloured by a contemporary hand and highlighted in gum arabic, interspersed with 20 leaves of engraved part-titles with keys to the plates, i.e. keys to four plates per part title; extra illustrated with an additional unnumbered plate 'vue de L’Ütliberg' at end (very rare light spotting). Fine original publisher's half brown morocco, over brown pebble-grained cloth, covers bordered with gilt rules with large gilt corner-pieces, title gilt lettered to upper cover 'Les Vues les Plus Pittoresques des Bords du Rhin', spine richly gilt, in a marbled-paper slipcase (corners fractionally rubbed).
Special notice
No VAT is payable on the hammer price or the buyer's premium for this lot. Please see the VAT Symbols and Explanation section of the Conditions of Sale for further information
Auction house category: | Printed books |
---|
Auction house category: | Printed books |
---|
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.