Books and Manuscripts

Strasburg: Christoffel Widitz und David Kannel, (ca. 1538-80). Two parts in one volume. 4to. (ii), liv, (iv); (ii), i-xxxviii, xli-xliv, xlvii-xlviii, (iv) pp. Illustrated with 94 (of 98) woodcuts (lacking plates xxxviii, xl, xlv, xlvi, in second part); first eight plates in second part not listed in register, although pagination is continuous, presumably as issued. Full 19th or 20th-century paste-paper boards, worn; edges stained blue; title-page repaired at bottom verso; scattered light foxing and soiling to text and plates; old repair in bottom pp. XXXV/XXXVI in first part; small worming in bottom gutter of many rear leaves. Not in Cockle.

A rare and early work on armor and heraldry of the various patrician families of Augsburg, Germany. Reissued and expanded in 1550 in Augsburg by Melchior Kriegstein in German and Latin editions. According to OCLC, there were seven editions printed between 1550-80.

"In 1538, Mair authored a Geschlechterbuch (geneaology book) consisting of a woodcut series illustrating male representatives of Augsburg's leading patrician families adorned in fantastic, historicizing armor. The book commemorates the council's addition of 38 families into the patriciate after their numbers had dwindled to a mere seven families. It demonstrates medieval varieties of armor including houndskull bascinets and visored sallets, while other pieces of garniture incorporate lion's heads and foliate motifs harking back to antiquity..." (A Companion to Late Medieval and Early Modern Augsburg, 2020)

Although this copy lacks four plates, it collates exactly with the 1538 copy in the Bavarian State Library, as well as the 1560 copy in the British Library, the only differences appear to be different typefaces used in both the plate titles and some catchwords.

From the library of bibliographer, bookseller, and arms collector, Raymond L.J. Riling (1896-1974).