BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521) - photo 1
BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521) - photo 2
BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521) - photo 3
BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521) - photo 4

BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521)

Lot 62
09.07.2025 10:30UTC +01:00
Classic
Sold
£ 12 600
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1450513
Lot 62 | BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521)
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
BRANT, Sebastian (1457–1521)
Das Narrenschiff, in Latin: Stultifera navis. Translated from German by Jacobus Locher Philomusus. – JACOBUS LOCHER PHILOMUSUS (1471–1528). Carmina varia. Basel: Johann Bergmann, de Olpe, 1 March 1497.
First Latin edition of The Ship of Fools, with early reference to Columbus and the New World. ‘The first original work by a German which passed into world literature, and helped to blaze the trail that leads from medieval allegory to modern satire, drama and novel of character’ (PMM). The Basel humanist Sebastian Brant describes the sea journey of 112 individuals representing the follies of human weakness and vice to ‘Naragonia’ the paradise of fools. For the 1494 first edition (in German) also by Bergmann at Basel, fine woodcut illustrations were commissioned, 75 of which are after Albrecht Dürer who resided in Basel for a few months in 1494. The fools in the Dürer woodcuts are recognized by the bells on their caps. 15 other illustrations are attributed to the Master of Haintz Narr. His fools wear coxcombs instead of bells. ‘Since there was no iconographical tradition for this newly conceived text, the subjects and scenes of the illustrations had to be created entirely new. The images presented are of such convincing force that their equal in design had never before been seen’ (A Heavenly Craft, p. 63). The Ship of Fools is the first literary work to announce the discovery of the New World, which is not surprising, since it was Bergmann who published the first German edition of the 1493 Columbus letter announcing his discovery of the New World. HC 3746 = [not H]C(Add) 3747; BMC III 795; BSB-Ink B-817; Bod-inc B-506; CIBN B-758; GW 5054; Goff B-1086; Schreiber 3567; ISTC ib01086000.

Chancery quarto (205 x 146mm). 148 leaves. 117 large woodcut illustrations printed from 112 blocks, of which 3 are full-page, cut by various artists with at least 75 after Albrecht Dürer, some with partial ink or wash colour, most woodcuts with partial woodcut borders, woodcut printer’s device, some text including headlines and shoulder notes highlighted in faint green wash (a1 repaired at upper and lower margins just touching border of illustration and with closed tear in text partially repaired on verso, repaired tears or chips just into text on e4-5 and i6, woodcut on o3v crossed through in ink, t4 laid down and stained with small loss into headline, some dampstains, finger-soiling and other stains, heaviest in quire i, washed). Early 19th-century calf gilt, edges gilt (spine ends just chipped and upper joint splitting, lightly rubbed). Provenance: early annotations and underlining – Colonel Sir Joseph William Weld, OBE, TD (1909-1992; his sale, Christie’s London, 24 July 1970, lot 9) – W. Senn-Dürck, Basel-Riehen (1904-2001; booklabel); by descent.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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09.07.2025 – 09.07.2025
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