# Basilius Besler artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/basilius-besler/
Profile generated: 2026-04-30T06:37:33.402Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1561-02-13
- Death date: 1629-03-10
- Nationality: German
- Movements: Botanical illustration and early modern florilegia
- Common media: copperplate engraving, botanical illustration

## About Basilius Besler

Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was a German apothecary, botanist, and art collector based in Nuremberg, best remembered for producing the Hortus Eystettensis, one of the most celebrated florilegia of the early modern period. Published in 1613, the work documents over one thousand plant species cultivated in the elaborate gardens of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, the Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt. Besler oversaw the project for nearly sixteen years, commissioning skilled engravers to render each specimen in detailed copperplate plates that set a new standard for botanical illustration. The resulting volume is regarded as a landmark in both botanical science and printmaking. Besler was also active as a naturalia collector and painter in Nuremberg from 1594 until his death in 1629.

## Common works and media

Collectors most often encounter individual copperplate engravings from the Hortus Eystettensis, depicting garden flowers, herbs, bulbs, and exotic plants arranged by season. The work originally contained 367 plates across four seasonal sections. Hand-colored and uncolored impressions both circulate, as do later octavo editions published in the 1640s and 1750s. Complete first-edition copies are rare at auction.

## Market and appraisal context

Basilius Besler's market is anchored by copperplate engravings from the Hortus Eystettensis (1613), which circulate widely at auction. Appraisily's index tracks 362 lots with 272 priced results spanning 1998 to April 2026, giving a deep and liquid comparable base. Individual plates typically realise between $360 (25th percentile) and $1,375 (75th percentile), with a median of $650. The ceiling at $1,411,125 reflects complete first-edition volumes or exceptionally rare hand-colored sets offered at major houses. The market is active and expanding: 33 priced lots in the most recent 12 months versus 23 in the prior period, indicating growing collector interest. Plates appear across a broad range of auction houses—from Christie's and Bonhams at the top tier to regional German specialists (Auktionshaus Arnold, Auktionshaus Mehlis, Karl & Faber), North American mid-tier firms (Weschler's, Simpson Galleries, Helmuth Stone, New Orleans Auction Galleries), and European houses (Gonnelli Casa d'Aste, Accademia Fine Art, Historia Auctionata). This breadth signals healthy, geographically dispersed demand rather than dependence on a single market.

## Auction-house-backed market evidence

Basilius Besler's market is anchored by copperplate engravings from the Hortus Eystettensis (1613), which circulate widely at auction. Appraisily's index tracks 362 lots with 272 priced results spanning 1998 to April 2026, giving a deep and liquid comparable base. Individual plates typically realise between $360 (25th percentile) and $1,375 (75th percentile), with a median of $650. The ceiling at $1,411,125 reflects complete first-edition volumes or exceptionally rare hand-colored sets offered at major houses. The market is active and expanding: 33 priced lots in the most recent 12 months versus 23 in the prior period, indicating growing collector interest. Plates appear across a broad range of auction houses—from Christie's and Bonhams at the top tier to regional German specialists (Auktionshaus Arnold, Auktionshaus Mehlis, Karl & Faber), North American mid-tier firms (Weschler's, Simpson Galleries, Helmuth Stone, New Orleans Auction Galleries), and European houses (Gonnelli Casa d'Aste, Accademia Fine Art, Historia Auctionata). This breadth signals healthy, geographically dispersed demand rather than dependence on a single market.

### Appraisal notes

An Appraisily appraisal of a Besler work would start by confirming the plate identity, edition (first 1613, second c. 1640, third c. 1713, or later restrike), and whether the impression is hand-colored or uncolored. The appraiser would then compare the work against the 272 priced lots in Appraisily's database, filtering for comparable edition, color status, sheet size, and condition. Recent comparable lots provide direct benchmarks: for example, hand-colored third-edition plates from Hortus Eystettensis have realised $400–$500 at Weschler's (January 2026), while first-edition hand-colored plates such as 'Madonna Lily and Red Martagon' reached $700 at Simpson Galleries (February 2026). Groups of two to three plates have sold in the $600–$2,200 range. High-quality photographs showing plate marks, paper condition (tears, foxing, margins), verso text, and any hand-coloring detail are essential for accurate valuation. Provenance documentation and the presence of original catalogue references (e.g., Spencer Sandilands) can further support value.

### Valuation factors

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### Collector notes

- If you are considering buying or selling a Besler plate, note that the market is liquid and well-documented, with dozens of lots changing hands each year across major and regional auction houses worldwide. Individual hand-colored plates from the first edition typically realise $500–$1,500 at auction, while third-edition hand-colored examples more often fall in the $300–$600 range. Uncolored impressions and plates in compromised condition trade below $300. Groups of two or three plates have recently sold for $600–$2,200 depending on quality. Before purchasing, verify the edition date and color status with the seller; many listings describe plates as 'after Besler' or 'd'après,' indicating later reproductions rather than original impressions, as seen in the Accademia Fine Art lots from April 2026. If you own a Besler plate and are considering an appraisal, high-resolution photographs of the recto, verso, and plate mark area will allow the appraiser to identify the edition and assess condition against the 272 priced comparables in Appraisily's database.

### Market caveats

- The 362 lots include both original Besler impressions and works described as 'd'après' or later reproductions; buyers should verify authenticity and edition before relying on price comparisons.
- Prices span multiple currencies (USD, EUR, AUD); currency conversion may affect apparent value levels. The median of $650 reflects Appraisily's normalised pricing where available.
- The maximum recorded price of $1,411,125 is an outlier likely representing a complete bound volume rather than an individual plate; it should not be used as a benchmark for single-sheet valuations.
- Later editions (second c. 1640, third c. 1713, and subsequent restrikes) exist in significant numbers and are often sold without clear edition attribution, which can distort comparable analysis if not filtered.
- Two recent lots at Auktionshaus Mehlis (November 2025) and one at Akiba Galleries (April 2026) had no recorded price realised (unsold or result pending), indicating that not all Besler lots find buyers at estimate.

### Market evidence sources

- undefined: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/basilius-besler/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-1561-1929-nuremberg-2-copperengravings-6108-c-fc2c09b865
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-juncus-clematis-periclymenum-106-c-69b3d293f9
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-mentha-crispa-engraving-105-c-a8cd232499
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-german-1561-1629-madonna-lily-and-red-martagon-circa-1615-18-3-4-x-15-3-4-in-47-6-x-40-cm-frame-27-x-24-in-68-6-x-61-cm-343-c-cf0f53362a
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-german-1561-1629-moly-latifolium-from-hortus-eystettensis-copper-engraving-with-hand-coloring-with-latin-text-on-verso-third-edition-c-1713-sheet-size-21-x-17-1-4-in-53-3-x-43-8-cm-frame-604-c-c98183164e
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-german-1561-1629-iris-bulbosa-from-hortus-eystettensis-copper-engraving-with-hand-coloring-with-latin-text-on-verso-third-edition-c-1713-minor-tears-sheet-size-21-x-17-1-4-in-53-3-x-43-8-c-593-c-e15920a642
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-1561-1629-d-apres-etudes-de-botanique-477-c-b7d582d78a
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-1561-1629-h-7015-c-ab3cda6e38
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-1561-1629-antique-hand-coloured-botanical-engraving-attractively-framed-and-mounted-with-spencer-sandilands-catalogue-affixed-verso-75-x-64cm-overall-1268-c-ec1963f288
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-basilius-besler-german-1561-1629-martagon-imperiale-embellished-engraving-445-c-b7330bb622

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine researched artist identity with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Basilius Besler, identity data is supported by authority files from the Library of Congress, VIAF, RKD, and Wikidata.

## Sources

- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/7728
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n86026324
- VIAF (OCLC): https://viaf.org/viaf/36944651/
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65027
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilius_Besler