The
Lion Copy
with the No. 1
as the
Author’s Copy
Ridinger, Johann Elias. (Representation of the Fair Game with the respective Traces and Scents, Goings, Get-offs, Turns, Flight, and other Signs … drawn from Life) / Abbildung Der Jagtbaren Thiere mit derselben angefügten Fährten und Spuhren, Wandel, Gänge, Absprünge, Wendungen, Widergängen, Flucht, und anderer Zeichen mehr … nach der Natur gezeichnet, samt einer Erklärung darüber. Augsburg, the author (1737-)1740. Large fol. 1 l. title. With pictorially executed large etched title vignette “Search-Hunter with Leader” and, mixed with engraving, 23 etchings with plates 1-20 being
proofs before the numbering
that had been added in the right sequence at the same place in pen and ink
by the master himself
as it is the conviction here sounded by wide comparisons of the numbers with Ridinger’s writing. Additionally
with two other important deviations .
Ruby red morocco volume with 5 imitated ribs, 2 dark green back-plates, gilt two-piece title on the front + Ridinger-stag vignette on the back cover, gilt lines on both, and ruby red fly leaves. In desert-colored morocco cassette with imitated ribs and with the
original printing-plate
for sheet ONE
» ( Scent of the LION ) «
in reverse (37.9 x 30.4 cm) traced back here far beyond Thieme-Becker (vol. XXVIII, 1933, p. 308) + Thienemann (1856), p. XXIII, seamlessly directly to the master’s estate itself as removable solitaire laid into the front cover under polycarbonate glass, inscribed »1. / J. E. Ridinger inv. del. sc. et exc. A. V.«. Above the artist’s name and below the
hall mark as uniqueness
– LÖWEN–EXEMPLAR –
( – Lion Copy – )
and in the inner front cover below ridinger handlung niemeyer (ridinger gallery niemeyer), all in 23.5 carat. (Bookbindery M. Hierl Bonn, 67 x 45 x 5 cm, 10,5 kg.)
Thienemann (without knowledge of states before numbering) + Schwarz (Cat. of a Ridinger Collection, color plate vol. I, X) 162-185, all in the final state with the etched number upper right; however, Helbing 354 + 356 bare of any numbering + 359, 362, 364, 366, 369 + 374, in each case marked “proof with written instead of engraved number”.
Thus are plates 1-20 PROOFS before the first edition, plates 21-23 with the reduced traces in the final state with printed numbers, plate 22 printed from two plates with loss of one parting line. Entirely printed on finer laid paper than usual and thus stressing
the brilliant quality of shining chiaroscuro
according to the state. – Without the text sheet which “is concerned one and only with the scents and could be new and important for the young hunter only” (Thienemann), the “(Preliminary Report)” on the back of the title covered by mounting. – The plates throughout trimmed on or near to the platemark and, with the exception of the singular opening lion, mounted two by two on full sheets (folded once to ca. 63 x 42 cm) of Whatman paper with watermark “J. Whatman / Turkey Mill / 1832”, what
generous arrangement by twos grants an unusually comfortable aspect .
To the conviction here
Ridinger’s Personal Copy
with a high degree of certainty in 1830 together with the bequest of the drawings passed into the hands of J. A. G. Weigel in Leipsic and mounted onto the 1832 Whatman paper.
Obviously for better presentation the Whatman-sheet for title + plt. 1 parted. The title itself complete, but severely trimmed and with trifle scratch (3.5 cm) in the middle of the vignette and a marginal tear of 4.5 cm settled by mounting and uniformly slightly browned as plt. 23, too. The wonderfully wide-margined Whatman-sheets with prevailingly only small marginal repairs, otherwise fine and absolutely fresh. Only the last one with plts. 22 + 23 with more tears. – Plate 7 – fallow-deer – with printing spot touching the subtitle, plate 10 with little black spot below the chest of the lynx. Here and there slightly foxed in the margins. Otherwise still some plate dirt on plate 1, the lion.
Résumé
The unique author’s copy
waiting on with spectacular new discoveries and here then additionally truffled with its
original printing-plate
to plate 1 of the suite, the lion in his majesty. Adequately presented as
ruby red morocco volume
in desert-colored morocco cassette
both gilt-stamped of 23.5 carat. Shortly , the worldwide unrepeatable
Lion Copy
for most elitist placement. As a provocatively inaccessibly sovereign eye-catcher, the envy of your friends, reflecting the noblesse of your home. Adequately presented within the Red Series of lüder h. niemeyer as of highest grade.
Offer no. 28,888 / price on request
to the extensive detail description
