Lot 266: 

NEUDÖRFFER, Johann (1497-1563). Ein Gesprechbüchlein zweyer schüler, Wie einer den andern im zierlichen schreyben untherweyst. [Nuremberg:] Johann Petrus, 1549.

2υo (272 x 192 mm). Collation: aυ6 b-dυ4 eυ2. 20 leaves. Xylographic title, folding xylographic plate of calligraphic alphabet, numerous xylographic calligraphic illustrations in the text. (Repair to fold of plate, some minor staining.) Modern black morocco gilt, cloth slipcase. Provenance: Rudolf H. Ferberg (inscription on verso of title dated Hamburg, 1867); Mark Lansburgh (bookplate); acquired from John Howell, 1982.

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE AND METHODICAL TEXTBOOK FOR THE ART OF CALLIGRAPHY as it was developed in Germany during the time of Dürer. A rare copy of a writing manual by the great Nuremberg writing master, Johann Neudörffer, the elder. He was considered the most important and most influential German calligrapher of his time, indeed the founder of German calligraphy (ADB). Neudörffer originally wrote the Gesprechbuchlein for his son and namesake, but his brother-in-law, the printer Johann Petrus, explains in his preface, that he persuaded him to let it be published. The text is in the form of seven dialogues between the master, Neudörffer, and his pupil, Stephan. On the last three pages of text, the rules are summarized in a series of 17 "points." The letter samples, all of them in Renaissance Fraktur, and the illustrations for the preparation of pens are woodcuts. Berlin Kat. 4787; Bonacini 1274; Doede 9; Graesse IV:660 (with extra plates).

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