Lot 52
  • 52

Werner, Friedrich Bernhard and others.

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Panoramic town views. [Augsburg: Johann Friedrich Probst and others, c.1740-1780]
  • paper
Forty-two engraved town views bound in one volume, the views on sheets 425 x 1100mm., all folding into a 4to volume (430 x 420mm.), contemporary half parchment over boards, most plates stained, some with tears, creases or repairs (4 with slight loss, mainly to folds - Augsburg, Frankfurt, Madrid and Passau), binding worn

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

An exceptional collection of individually printed views, mostly after Werner, collected and bound together near the time of publication.

Friedrich Bernhard Werner (1690-1776) specialised in panoramic town views and from 1729 onwards made nearly one hundred for the heirs of the publisher Jeremias Wolff (mainly Probst family members - Johann Balthasar, Johann Friedrich, and others). The majority of the prints in this collection (26) are by Johann Friedrich Probst (d.1781) after Werner, indicating a date of printing of 1750 or later (Johann Friedrich inherited from Johann Balthasar in 1750). In all thirty-two of the views are by Werner (one is by J.T. Kraus, one by Elias Bäck and eight are unidentified); nine are printed by J.B. Probst or by Wolff heirs indicating a date before 1750.

The collection has been bound up, probably near the time of publication of the prints, using an old binding with lettering in German on the spine relating to legal matters, dated 1745 (or re-using pieces of legal parchment for the spine and corners).

Each view has been neatly numbered in ink in a contemporary hand in the top corner. The views are bound in alphabetical order as follows: 1. Amsterdam; 2. Augsburg; 3. Bologna; 4. missing; 5. Breslau; 6. Cologne; 7. Constantinople; 8. Florence; 9. Frankfurt; 10. Genoa; 11. Graz; 12. Jerusalem; 13. Ingolstadt; 14. missing; 15. Linz; 16. Lisbon; 17. London; 18. Loreto; 19. Madrid; 20. Magdeburg; 21. Mannheim; 22. Mantua; 23. Mainz; 24. Meyland (i.e. Milan); 25. Munich; 26. Naples; 27. Nuremberg; 28. Padua; 29. Paris; 30. Passau; 31. Pavia; 32. Perugia; 33. Pistoia; 34. Prague; 35. missing; [36]. Presburg (i.e. Bratislava); 37. Regensburg; 38. Rome; 39. Rotterdam; 40. Salzburg; 41. Siena; 42. Strasburg; 43. Venice; 44. Verona; 45. Vienna.  A more detailed condition report on each of the views is available online or by application to the Book Department.