May 06, 2004 - Sale 2005

Sale 2005 - Lot 16

Price Realized: $ 48,300
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 20,000 - $ 30,000
FROM THE FRIEDRICH AUGUST II COLLECTION ALBRECHT DÜRER
The Life of the Virgin.

Set of 20 woodcuts, 1502-10. Each approximately 295x215 mm; 115/8x81/2 inches, small to thread margins. Each ex-collection Friedrich August II (Lugt 971, lower right recto). Most with a fish bladder watermark (Meder 309, which he dates to circa 1580); one with a hand with a flower watermark (Meder 16, which he dates to circa 1600); and one with a shield with a band watermark (Meder 246, which he dates to circa 1600). Each but the title page after the 1511 Latin text edition; the title page from the 1511 Latin text edition. Very good, clean impressions.

According to Meder, sets of the Life of the Virgin issued after the 1511 Latin text edition vary in the quality of impressions and, unlike the current set, almost all lack the original woodcut title. Meder calls prints from this series with the fish bladder watermark "noch gute Drucke" (still good impressions) compared to the 1511 Latin text editions. The current set is clean and the impressions are strong and dark. Bartsch 76-95; Meder 188-207.