ULRICH, HERZOG ZU MECKLENBURG

by HERZOG ZU MECKLENBURG Ulrich

£15,000 · Offered by Sokol Books

The superb contemporary German binding, lavishly decorated with lacquer paint, is very unusual. The upper centre panel, with the Virgin and Child standing on a crescent, surmounted by a (ducal) crown held by angels, is so uncommon that EBDB lists no other instances. The closest contemporary models are the bindings of Paul Droscher (EBDB w004602) (fl.1589-1601), active in Wittenberg, Saxony, near Leipzig, where this edition was printed. Although our binding does not bear his initials, the influence of colour and design is apparent. Droscher s usually feature a centre (sunken) panel with a standing Luther or Melanchthon, cornerpieces with interlacing ribbons, and ropework borders all hand-coloured with bright, lacquer-like pigments; one sample (Sotheby s, 14 Jul 2020) bears on the spine very similar blind-tooled stars and fleurs-de-lys to ours. T he Virgin s ducal crown suggests this was probably a presentation copy. Since the work was printed in Leipzig, it is plausible that a copy would have been sent to the local Duke (and Elector) of Saxony. In 1600, the Lutheran Sophie of Brandenburg was regent for her son. The unusual Marian centre panel was certainly suitable for a female dedicatee. A good candidate for the initials ( Fürstin von Brandenburg Herzogin zu Sachsen Cleve Jülich ?) in the 1682 ex-libris is Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1612-87), Electrix of Saxony until 1680, though she preserved the title of duchess to her death in 1687. In the C19 the copy wa

• Binding: Hardcover

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