The Ricky Jay Collection

The Ricky Jay Collection

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 112. Buchinger, Matthias | "I saw Mathew Buchinger … perform abundance of things which I Could not doe with my hands".

Buchinger, Matthias | "I saw Mathew Buchinger … perform abundance of things which I Could not doe with my hands"

Auction Closed

October 28, 08:54 PM GMT

Estimate

10,000 - 15,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Buchinger, Matthias

Fine autograph calligraphy exemplar signed ("Matthew Buchinger")


One page (93 x 180 mm) on a slip cut from a leaf of paper, Glasgow, 29 October 1722, variously demonstrating frontward, backward, upside-down, and mirror writing ("This was written by Matthew Buchinger born Without Hands or Feet 1674 in Germany"), verso inscribed with the autograph attestation of an eyewitness to Buchinger's Glasgow appearance; a bit of marginal fraying, mounting remnants on verso, some ink show-through.


The verso of this writing sample bears an admiring attestation by Hew Crawford, one of the patrons of Buchinger's Glasgow engagement: "Glasgow 29th Octr. 1722 I saw Mathew Buchinger without hands or Thighs perform abundance of things which I Could not doe with my hands and saw him in particular write this within Writting by the help of his arms which is attested by me."

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