Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). (Monkeys or Animals yet related to them.) Suite of 10 plates. Etchings with engraving after copies at third-hand (i. a. after the London physician Sir Hans Sloane, 1660-1753) and drawings by himself. 31.6-32.2 x 21.1-21.7 cm.
Thienemann + Schwarz 541-550; Weigel 28 A/B; Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX, 1896 ( “Rare”, 1885 ! ); Coppenrath II, 1555 ( Rare, 1889! ); Reich auf Biehla 136; Gg. Hamminger 1667 ( “Rare sheets”, but only four of these!, 1895! ); Helbing XXXIV, 1155; Schwerdt III, 141, f.; Counts Faber-Castell 58 ( only 7!, one trimmed to platemark, 1958 ); Ridinger Catalogue Darmstadt, 1999, III.14-III.16 with two ills.
With gilt head edge suggesting the once belonging to an unmounted album, quality of impression and preservation are almost best, with 43.5 x 29 cm the sheet size goes beyond that of the Earl of Fife with Schwerdt with just 41.5 x 28 cm. Thus 3.5-4 cm laterally, 3-5 above + 7-8 below. Only plate 1 with two longer backed margin tears, the upper one of which touching the white platemark, and slightly age-smudgy especially in the lower margin. Otherwise generally in the outmost lower margin and in the right lower corner slightly finger-stained. The heading of the 4th plate “CEBVS” inclusive of, partly, lateral and top edge a little weak in print. Small brown spot in the branchwork of the 6th plate.
The set – etched after supposedly Jakob Jele (southern Germany 2nd h. of the 16th century), Karl Wilhelm de Hamilton (Brussels 1668 – Augsburg 1754), Lazarus Röting (1549-1614), Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), London, as well as after own design – belongs to the rarest of the master’s.
Offer no. 28,937 / price on application