COLUMBUS, CHRISTOPHER⁠ — JOHANN STAMLER | Dyalogus... de diversarum gencium sectis et mundi religionibus. Augsburg: Erhard Oglin & Georg Nadler, 22 May 1508

Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection

COLUMBUS, CHRISTOPHER⁠ — JOHANN STAMLER

Dyalogus... de diversarum gencium sectis et mundi religionibus. Augsburg: Erhard Oglin & Georg Nadler, 22 May 1508

Folio (11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in.; 298 x 210 mm). [2], 32, [2]. Xylographic title incorporated into full-page woodcut by Hans Burgkmair, repeated on the verso, Roman letter, side-notes; a few side-notes shaved, some wormholes, occasional soiling. 20th-century half shagreen and marbled boards, spine gilt lettered; some rubbing to extremities. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot.

First edition—with early references to the discoveries of Columbus and Vespucci in the prefatory letter from Stamler to Jacob Locher, dated 1506 (f. 3v): "I do not make mention of the newly discovered islands: But I send for you to see the treatises of Christopher Colom and Albericus [sic] Vespucci (to whom our age is greatly indebted) on the new world discovered" (trans.).  

The marginal commentary points out various heresies; the text presents a dramatic dialogue in 14 acts, treating of the religions of the Tartars, Turks, Saracens and Jews

The large and striking woodcut by Hans Burgkmair depicts a seated female figure representing the Church with the globe as a footstool, and she sits before a tent, flanked by the banners of the Papacy and the Empire. The Pope and Emperor kneel before her, and on a lower step sit four queens representing the four false religions, with each bearing a banner with a broken staff. Below them are the figures of the disputants who take part in the dialogue: Dr. Oliverius (theologian), Balbus (historian), Rudolphus (a layman), Arnestes (an apostate), Samuel (a Jew), and Triphon (natural philosopher). In the lower left can be seen the arms of Stamler and his initials, and in the lower right Burgkmair’s initials.

The author was parish priest at Kissingen in Bavaria. Hans Burgkmair the Elder was a skilled painter in addition to woodcut printmaker.

REFERENCE:

Alden & Landis, European Americana 508/19; Church 26; Hollstein V: 68.81; Muther 858; Sabin 90127; Shaaber S552 

PROVENANCE:

Bruce McKinney, The De Orbe Novo Collection (signed bookplate; Bloomsbury, 3 December 2009, lot 6)