Stultifera navis - photo 1
Stultifera navis - photo 2

Stultifera navis

Lot 16
28.01.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
ID 1360732
Lot 16 | Stultifera navis
Estimate value
$ 6 000 – 8 000
BRANT, Sebastian (1457-1521). Das Narrenschiff, in Latin: Stultifera navis. Translated from German by Jacobus Locher PHILOMUSUS (1471-1528). Strasbourg: Johann Grüninger, 1 June 1497.

First Strasbourg edition in Latin (fourth overall). A pinnacle of humanist satire, Brant’s Ship of Fools was popular across Europe, appearing in numerous editions and translations in the 15th and 16th centuries, becoming the ‘first original work by a German which passed into world literature’ (PMM). Printed in Brant’s native Strasbourg, this edition is one of the four rare editions printed by Grüninger and the only one in Latin. Inspired by the earlier woodcuts including those attributed to Dürer, Grüninger’s illustrations used a new chiaroscuro technique developed at his press: ‘It consisted in a close system of parallel lines of shading, straight or curved, according to the requirements of form, which approximated more nearly than woodcut had hitherto done to the richer tonal character of line engraving’ (Hind). Hind, An Introduction to a History of Woodcut (1935). H *3749; BMC I 112; BSB-Ink B-819; Bod-inc B-509; GW 5057; Goff B-1089; Schramm XX p. 23; Schreiber 3570; ISTC ib01089000.

Chancery quarto (202 × 146mm). 112 leaves. 118 woodcuts printed from 78 blocks (pressed, even toning, about 6 leaves with shaved headlines, small stains in woodcut on E2v, repaired tear on G1, I1 with tiny repaired paper flaw costing a couple of letters, blank corner of P1 repaired, T4 with short edge tear). 19th-century straight-grained morocco gilt by Jonathan Clarke, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges (neatly rebacked with original spine preserved, mild rubbing at extremities and lower cover, slight chipping in front flyleaf). A later author portrait mounted on verso of front flyleaf. Provenance: Elias Horry Frost (1827–1897; ownership signature dated April 1852 from Charleston, S.C.; ownership inscription on flyleaf; bookplate).
Place of origin:France
Auction house category:Antiquarian books, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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