Lot 254: DÜRER, Albrecht -- SENEFELDER, Alois (1771-1834). Albrecht Dürers Christlich-Mythologische Handzeichnungen . Munich: [Alois Senefelder,] 1808.

DÜRER, Albrecht -- SENEFELDER, Alois (1771-1834). Albrecht Dürers Christlich-Mythologische Handzeichnungen. Munich: [Alois Senefelder,] 1808.

2° (340 x 245mm). Lithographic portrait of Dürer, lithographic title in black and violet, 2 pages of lithographic text in Senefelder's hand, 43 lithographs by Johan Nepomuk Strixner after Dürer printed in violet, sepia, red, black or green. (Lacking 2 pp. letterpress contents, spotted, as often.) Olive green morocco tooled in gilt and blind, marbled edges, by Ph. Selenka, with his ticket.

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST FULLY LITHOGRAPHED BOOK. To show off his recent invention, and in particular, to demonstrate its significance for reproducing works of art, Senefelder chose Dürer's border designs for the Prayerbook of Emperor Maximilian I, printed in the colours of the original. Contemporary recognition around Europe of the importance of the edition is witnessed by Ackermann's decision to reproduce it in lithographic facsimile in 1817 as the first book printed by lithography in England. Brunet II, 914; Winkler 831, 13-14; cf. Twyman, Early Lithographed Books, I,9.

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