Aquila Books Archives - Rare Book Insider

Aquila Books

  • Showing all 11 results

book (2)

[Facsimile] Gebetbuch für Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg (Prayer Book for Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg) and the Commentary Volume

Glockendon, Gabriel [illuminator]; Stierlein, Georg [script by]; Thoss, Dagmar [commentary volume by] Limited to 499 copies. 100 sheet; 62 pp. Octavo. Hardcover, original leather binding, embossed gilt lettering and gilt decorations on the spine and covers, spine with five raised bands and two gilt-lettered red labels. All edges trimmed and stained in red. Printed marbled endpapers, green ribbon bookmark. Including 42 full-page coloured and gold-enhanced illustrations of landscapes, castles, etc. (originally by Glockendon), and 73 coloured decorative initials (by Georg Stierlein). Red rubricated text and smaller colored initials in the text. With the commentary volume, 8vo, brown linen covered boards with gilt letters on the spine and front cover, both housed in original linen slipcase, minor signs of shelf wear to the slipcase. Overall mint condition, as new. Facsimile print of the Nuremberg edition, 1536/37. #260 of 499 copies, Limited total edition of 998 copies in 2 partial editions. Text in German. The Mannerist-inspired prayer book, commissioned by Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg (1490-1545), was completed by master craftsmen in 1537. It marks a moment of upheaval with regard to the iconographic conception that had been common up to that point and self-confidently moves away from standardized image programs. The original manuscript (written in 1537, access code 1847) is now located in Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, Wien, Austria.
  • $758
book (2)

[Facsimile] Das Buch vom erfüllten Leben (and the Commentary Volume)

Bruyant, Jacques Limited to 980 copies. 146; 412 pp. Octavo. Hardcover, boards covered with red velvet, four decorative silver fittings attached to the corners of front board. Spine with five raised bands covered with the velvet, all edges trimmed and gilt. Tight binding, unread and unopened. Facsimile gilt decorated ex-libris bookplate of Joseph Widener on the front free paste-down. Including 46 richly coloured illustrations in late Gothic style, lavishly decorated with silver, gold leaf and brush, surrounded by tendrils in which animals, fruits and flowers are scattered, as well as 74 initials on a gold background. Comes with the scientific commentary volume, octavo, hardcover, boards covered with red linen, gilt lettering on the cover and spine. Plus publishers brochure, all beautifully housed in an acrylic glass slipcase, mint condition. The verse narrative written by Jacques Bruyant, a clergyman from Paris, served as an allegorical guide for newly married nobles. The book was written around 1342 and was the only illustrated edition until around 1430. Its illustrations primarily show everyday life and work scenes from the Middle Ages surrounded by tendrils in which animals, fruits and flowers. Today the manuscript is kept under the signature Widener 1 in the Free Library in Philadelphia. In 2005, the Facsimile Verlag Luzern created only 980 Arabic numbered copies (limited and hand numbered). This facsimile edition is out of print at the publisher and is no longer available there. This copy bears number 46/980. Text in German.
  • $947