Giovanni Antonio Menavino (1492-1514) and Sigmund von Herberstein (1486-1566)

Lot 124
30.07.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Prix de départ
£ 6 500
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Lieu de l'événementRoyaume-Uni, London
Commissionsee on Website%
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ID 381332
Lot 124 | Giovanni Antonio Menavino (1492-1514) and Sigmund von Herberstein (1486-1566)
Valeur estimée
£ 7 000 – 10 000
MENAVINO, Giovanni Antonio (1492-after 1514). Türckische Historien, oder warhaftige Beschreibunge aller Türken Ankunfft, Regierung, Königen, und Keisern, Kriegen, Schlachten, Victorien und Siegen, wider Christen und Heiden… Aus Italianischer Sprach in unsere Deudsche verdolmetscht, durch den Hochgelährten Heinrich Müller. Frankfurt: [Thomas Rebarts and Kilian Hahns, 1570]. [Bound with:] HERBERSTEIN, Sigmund Von (1486-1566). Moscoviter wunderbare Historien: in welcher deß treffenlichen grossen land Reüssen, sampt der Hauptstatt Moscauw … religion, und seltzame gebreüch: auch deß erschrockenlichen großfürsten zu Moscauw härkommen, mannlicher haten … auff das fleyßigest ordentlichen begriffen… Basel: heirs of Niclauß Brillinger and Marc Russinger, 1567

Two rare 16th-century German-language descriptions of Turkey and Russia, containing important maps and illustrations. ‘[Menavino’s] work [bound first here] is one of the most important contemporary descriptions of Turkish life, of particular interest because Menavino himself spent ten years in the Seraglio as an “içoglan” or page of the Sultan. At the age of 12 he had been captured by pirates and presented as a gift to the Sultan. He was enrolled among the tribute-children and in his book describes their education in detail and speaks with authority of the inner life of the great palace’ (Blackmer). The maps and plans in the second-bound work by Sigmund von Herberstein provided the basis for many subsequent maps of the region, for example the Braun and Hogenberg plan of Moscow in their Civitates series.

2 volumes in one, folio (317 x 200mm). I. Second edition in German, general title printed in red and black, 2 part titles both dated 1563, part 1 with 12 woodcut medallion portraits in the text and blank E4, part 2 with 2S7 errata leaf and blank 2S8, part 3 with final blank 2i8 present (general title with corner repaired and 7 words and date in manuscript facsimile, some marginal tears and chips notably to leaves h2-3, k4-6, m4 in pt 1, 2G5 with loss to catchword, 2N1 with corner chipped, and leaves 3R4 and 2S2 with tears into text affecting a couple of letters in pt 2, staining and browning throughout with loss of a few words to leaves a6-b1 in pt 1, 2L3-4 heavily spoiled and browned in pt2, and quire 2M in pt 2 heavily browned). See Blackmer 1112 (note); Gollner II, 1264. II. Second edition in German, translated by Heinrich Pantaleon, woodcut device on title with full-page woodcut portrait on verso, 2 double-page woodcut maps of Muscovy, double-page woodcut plan of Moscow, 6 woodcut illustrations in the text (complete, without the folding portrait of Ivan Vasilievich which was found in a single copy sold at auction in 1991 and is not described in any of the copies held institutionally, a couple of marginal tears to first woodcut map two of which slightly extending into image but without loss, tiny marginal hole to a4, small marginal chip to c3 affecting manuscript marginalia, short marginal tears to h3, i5, o2 and t2 just into text, marginal chip to m2 with associated 120mm tear extending into text but without loss, 70mm marginal tear to m5 extending into text again without loss, quire n with small marginal burn mark with associated chip at top edge, some browning and staining throughout). Karrow 40/4.5, 41/.46 and pp.584-586; Nordenskiöld III, 497. Contemporary German blindstamped pigskin, spine in 5 compartments with raised bands (worn, lacking brass cornerpieces, clasps defective, small splits at head- and tail of spine at upper joint, top and bottom raised bands rubbed and slightly defective, small hole in central spine compartment). Provenance: contemporary ink inscriptions on front free endpaper and title – two small pieces of ink marginalia on c2-3 in second work.
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