LE TRIOMPHE DE LA MORT Gravé d'après les Dessins originaux de Jean Holbein par Chr. de Mechel Graveur a Basle

[2], 47 p. w/ 47 lithographic engravings each protected by a sheet of tissue. 9 x 6 in. 47 numbered engravings, beginning with the title page and ending with the supurb engraving of an actual Holbein original drawing of a Dance of Death dagger handle design, which von Mechel was the first to make. Each engraving is protected by a tissue leaf, including the title page, is printed on heavy stock paper, and does not contain any other descriptions or language accompanying the engravings other than the notations below the image (see photos). Although retaining the same title page as the original edition, it is generally accepted this copy is a separately printed lithographic edition from ~1850. As an example of the same/similar binding, decorative endpapers, and content, see copy held by the Bauhaus Universitat Weimar, which can be digitally accessed here: https://digitalesammlungen.uni-weimar.de/viewer/!metadata/PPN623138093/97/-/

A rare printing of Christian von Mechel's 'Le Triomphe de la Mort', which was originally published in 1780. The title page and description under each engraving states it was engraved "after the original designs of Hans Holbein", from his extremely popular dance of death series first appearing in 1538 and proceeding through numerous editions and reengraved/copied by multiple other artists. However, recent scholarship identifies that these engravings were not made after direct copies of Holbein's engravings, but instead after the drawings/copies of Holbein's works by a young Peter Paul Reubens, the exceptionally gifted Flemish artist (b.1577 - d.1640).

Before reaching his success as an artist, Reubens was believed to have made hand drawn copies of 46 of Holbein's woodblock designs (not including the dagger sheath at end), which Christian von Mechel discovered and copied, believing them to be Holbein originals. See: http://www.dodedans.com/Eholbein-rubens.htm. Although slightly different than Holbein's woodcuts, Reubens's drawings, and these engravings, are no less skillful, and in some ways enhance the scenes very subtlely. In many other respects, the engravings are extraordinarily faithful copies.

Christian von Mechal, an engraver from Basel, is also exceptionally skilled and recreates exceptionally fine engravings from the copied Reubens drawings. Because they are engraved, the details tend to be much finer than many of Holbein's works, and contain details of extreme variety in each scene, making them quite powerful. The engravings are also printed in a larger format than Holbein's (here 3.75 x 3 in.), which again contributes to making their quality very apparent.

CONDITION: A beautiful copy with virtually no interior blemishes save for very slight foxing on 3-4 pages not affecting the plates. The foxing mostly just affects the tissue protectors, which seems to be their design. The binding is very elegant with intricate gilt tooling and decoration, and is composed of calf leather half-binding. All edges are stained a deep red. The endpapers at the front and rear of book are a damask design resembling a thistle, in a beautiful gilt and deep green color on heavy-stock paper. The edges of the boards are slightly scuffed and chipped, and the applied title on the spine is partially chipped away (like the copy held at Bauhaus Universitat Weimar), but the stamped 'Holbein' title is still visible. It's a very clean and handsome copy in exceptional binding. Please feel free to ask any questions or for more photos.