[Dürer], A set of engravings copied from Dürer's Small Passion, in a silver binding

[Dürer, Albrecht, after]

[Small Passion. Germany or Netherlands, probably late sixteenth century or seventeenth century]

8vo (162 x 105mm.), 36 engravings copied from Dürer's Small Passion (some reversed copies) still retaining the AD monogram, each print cut to border and mounted on lilac paper, with an additional woodcut from a different work at the front (see footnote), nineteenth-century binding of green velvet with earlier silver panels on each cover and on spine, two clasps, in a fabric envelope, a section of leaves removed from front of volume, some leaves loose, fabric envelope somewhat worn

Dürer's Small Passion was first published in Nuremberg in 1511, and copied by various artists throughout the sixteenth century; these copies probably date from the late sixteenth or seventeenth century, though they retain the AD monogram.

The first woodcut in the volume is from Wolfgang von Maen, Das Leiden Jesu Christi (Augsburg: Johann Schönsperger, 1515) [VD16 M 77], leaf c2, with the initials HB at the top left of the image. The woodcut, depicting Martha washing the feet of Christ at a dinner at the start of John I, has been cut out of its decorative frame.

The binding has been made from a smaller silver Germanic binding, dating to around 1700, which has been mounted onto green velvet with later silver extensions to the spine and on the covers, with later clasps. The covers have central roundels containing scenes from the Bible and the spine has an oval of King David with his harp.

PROVENANCE:

Swann Galleries, New York, sale, 15 May 1947, lot 187