Dürer, Albrecht

4to (195 x 149mm.), woodcut of the Man of Sorrows on title-page, 35 (of 36) woodcut illustrations, seventeenth-century Dutch vellum, in a nineteenth-century box with Dürer's monogram in metal on upper cover, lacking A8 and E6 (with colophon), first 3 leaves friable with a few tears, many leaves reinforced in gutter (occasionally causing creasing to leaves), E5 repaired at lower corner with small section of woodcut and some text on verso supplied in facsimile

Henricus Hondius, inscription on flyleaf; B. v. -- berghe, Rotterdam, 1629, inscription on flyleaf; partly obscured inscription dated Potsdam 1767 on flyleaf

Fairfax Murray, German 144; VD16 S4588

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."

FIRST EDITION of the woodcut version of the Little Passion, containing images of Christ's Passion and the Fall of Man, with accompanying verses by the Benedictine monk Benedictus Chelidonius of Nuremberg. The illustrations are reduced versions of Dürer's Great Passion, which was printed shortly before (Fairfax Murray, German 141). The woodblocks for this edition are now in the British Museum.