Vitruvius, Vitruvius Teutsch, Nuremberg, 1548, contemporary pigskin

Vitruvius Pollio, Marcus. Vitruvius Teutsch. Nemlichen des aller namhafftigisten und hocherfarnesten, Roemischen Architecti, und Kunstreichen Werck oder Bawmeisters, Marci Vitruvij Pollionis, Zehen Buecher von der Architectur und kuenstlichem Bawen. Ein Schluessel und einleytung aller Mathematischen und Mechanischen kuenst, Scharpffsinniger fleissiger nachtrachtung oder speculation kuenstlicher werck… Alles mit schoenen kuenstlichen Figuren und Antiquiteten… gezieret und erkleret… Erstmals verteutscht, und in Truck verordnet Durch D. Gualtherum H. Rivium Medi. & Math. Vormals in Teutsche sprach zu transferiren, noch von niemand sonst understanden… Nuremberg: Johann Petreius (Hans Peterlein), 1548

The woodcut illustrations in this, the first edition in German, are attributed to Peter Flötner, Virgil Solis, Georg Pencz, Hans Brosemer and Erhard Schön, with initials by Hans Springinklee. The illustrations are largely based on the 1521 Como edition, and some are ultimately derived from the 1499 Hypnerotomachia Poliphili.

The translation is by Walther Ryff, who was responsible for two more architectural works in German, both printed by Petreius in 1547, as well as a Latin edition of Vitruvius from 1543; see Bibliotheca Brookeriana I, 11 October 2023, lot 80.

Folio (308 x 198 mm). Gothic type, 49 lines plus headline. collation: A-C⁴ D⁶ b-ffff⁴ gggg⁴⁺¹ hhhh-mmmm⁴: 339 leaves (gggg4v blank, a printing error corrected by the insertion of a leaf with blank recto and text from gggg4v printed on verso). Title-page printed in red and black, numerous in-text woodcut illustrations, aa2 and aa3 with marginal annotations in Latin in a humanist hand. (Inscription washed from title-page, woodcut on mmm2v slightly shaved at outer margin, some marginal dampstaining.)

binding: Near-contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards (322 x 229 mm), 2 clasps, plain edges, pastedowns with watermark Briquet 1506 (of the papermaker Wartenfels, near Kulmbach, used in Bamberg in 1603). Housed in a modern slipcase. (Binding somewhat rubbed, lower board with small neat repair at foot). 

acquisition: Purchased in 1999 from Robin Halwas, London. references: Fowler 404; VD16 V 1765; not in BAL RIBA