RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437). - photo 1
RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437). - photo 2
RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437). - photo 3
RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437). - photo 4
RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437). - photo 5
RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437). - photo 6

RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437).

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£ 100 800
Auction dateClassic
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +01:00
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CHRISTIE'S
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United Kingdom, London
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ID 870743
Lot 109 | RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437).
RICHENTAL, Ulrich von (c.1365-1437).

Concilium zu Konstanz. Augsburg: Anton Sorg, 2 September 1483.

First edition of an eye-witness account of the Council of Constance, fully coloured by a contemporary hand, depicting its pomp, ceremony, actions and results, as well as life in the medieval city, teeming with visitors from Asia, Africa and Europe The Council, held from 1414 to 1418, was called to heal the papal schism, reform abuses within the Church and suppress the Bohemian and Wycliffean heresies. The three existing popes resigned or were deposed and a new pope was elected (Martin V). The heretical writings of John Wyclif were burned and his body was condemned to be dug up and cast out of consecrated ground; Jan Hus was arrested, tried and burned at the stake, and his ashes thrown into the Rhine; and Hus’s disciple, Jerome of Prague, met the same fate. St. Birgitta of Sweden was canonised.



Richental, a citizen of Constance, was a precise chronicler, who not only followed the council's sessions, festivities and participants, but also gives an intimate description of life in town, now teeming with international traders and visitors. His description is brought to life by the lively woodcuts depicting, among other details, the tournaments, markets, a pastry cook, the burning of Jan Huss, the pomp and majesty of the many embassies. They are by the Master of the Sorg Columna (von Arnim, Schäfer, 185) and commissioned for this edition. Richental’s is also one of the most important armorials of the 15th century with its c.1159 coats of arms, here mostly coloured with heraldic tincture. William Morris praised the edition as one of the outstanding German books of the 15th century.



There is some discrepancy in the literature about the number of blocks and cuts but the present copy has the full complement. Except for the cancel fol. 10/4, which appears to be unrecorded, the collation of this copy agrees with that given by H.W. Davies in the Fairfax Murray privately published catalogue. The BMC and BSB collations are either faulty or indicate variant impositions between unsigned quires 15-18 [their p-s]. A fresh copy with strong impressions, also of bearer type in various places. HC *5610; BMC II, 350 (IB. 5958); Goff R-196; BSB-Ink R-178; Schreiber 5095; Bod.-Inc. R-069; CIBN R-127; Davies, Murray German 353; facsimile, ed. E. Voulliéme Potsdam 1923; ISTC ir00196000.



Chancery folio (265 x 190mm). 248 leaves (without first and final blank). 41 full-page woodcuts, 3 half-page and 1159 (Davies count) woodcut armorial shields, all vibrantly coloured by a contemporary hand, woodcut outline initials coloured red or black (minor staining). 17th-century German dark-stained blind-panelled pigskin over wooden boards, multiple fillets, floral stamps, crest roll outer border, inner borders tooled with a birds-in-foliage roll, late 15th-century South-German brass center- and corner-pieces and clasps apparently preserved from the original binding, red-stained leaf-edges. Provenance: Iheremias Kofler 1587, inscribed by him at the end: Gott vermags alles; a few marginal notes (cut into at fore-edge) – Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), violin virtuoso and bibliophile (sale Parke-Bernet Galleries, 28 January 1949, lot 140, $2,100 to Offenbacher) – Cornelius J. Hauck (1893-1967; sale Christie’s NY, 27-28 June 2006, lot 158).





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