Lot 254: TORTOREL, Jacques and Jean PERRISSIN (ca 1536-1611). Der Erste Tail. Mancher layen

TORTOREL, Jacques and Jean PERRISSIN (ca 1536-1611). Der Erste Tail. Mancher layen gedenckwirdiger historien von Kried, mord und aufrueren welche sich diese verloffene nechste tail iaren hehr in francreich zugetragen. Vol. I (all published). [Geneva: J. de Laon?, ca 1570.]

Oblong 2 o (390 x 510 mm). Title within woodcut border and 39 plates with letterpress text in German at bottom, comprising 26 woodcut and 13 engraved plates (four backed with paper, several with small marginal repairs.) Contemporary calf, blind-tooled and partly gilt, each cover formed by two panels different in design and covered with roll borders, smaller panels, portraits, medallions and coats-of-arms, the front cover with initials J.G.C.Z.B. above coat-of-arms and dated 1571 (rebacked, some rubbing and wear). Provenance: possibly Johann Georg Churfuerst zu Brandenburg (initials on binding); Johannes Fridericus Güntter de Sternegg (armorial bookplate); Prince Lichtenstein (small inkstamp on title margin and on verso of three plates); purchased from Emil Offenbacher, 14 April 1959.

A COMPLETE SET OF TOTOREL AND PERRISSIN'S IMPORTANT RENAISSANCE WORK, the German-language issue, with letterpress text beneath each image. The scenes are from the life of Henry II of France from 1559 to 1570 and show, in graphic detail, the many massacres and battles of the French Wars of Religion. The work was designed as Protestant propaganda to expose the atrocities of the Catholics. The Lyonese artists Totorel and Perrissin created the copper-plates and employed Jacques Le Chaleux to cut the woodblocks as unreversed copies of the engraved plates. Three versions--Latin, French and German--were issued, and plates were sold individually and in sets. The engravings enjoyed such success that the printers commissioned woodcut copies of the worn copper-plates. The present copy is preserved in a contemporary dated binding. Brunet V:892-95; Fairfax Murray German 415; Harvard/Mortimer 421; Robert Dumesil, Le peintre graveur VI:47-69.