Four full-page miniatures on leaves from an Album Amicorum, in Latin, German and Greek [Germany, one dated 1559 and another 1561]

four single leaves, each c.200x140mm, paper, each in an old double-sided painted frame (a) SUSANNA AND THE ELDERS, reverse with full-page coat of arms of 'Christophorus Thurzo Aurelia', small stains; (b) THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS, reverse with full-page coat of arms of 'Christophorus Schober', early foliation '26', small creases and stains, area at lower margin strengthened; (c) THE BIRTH OF ADONIS, reverse with date 1561 and inscriptions in German and Latin, the signature of 'J Rauschinus', early foliation '30', signature discoloured, small stains; (d) ORPHEUS CHARMING THE ANIMALS, with a cartouche enclosing the signature of 'Bernardus Schmidt Arge', added below 'Aurelia Gallorum', reverse with date 1559, the signatory's half-page coat of arms and the motto 'Starnat fortunam Virtus', and a seven-line quotation in Greek from Isocrates' Panegyric, small stains

(a) Kristóf I Thurzó was Graf von Graweneck, Freiherr von Boinicz and the head of the princely Thurzó family of Hungary. A prominent family in Hungary, they died out in the 17th century.

For images of all four items see SOTHEBYS.COM