Lot description
Kleiner, Salomon. REPRESENTATION NATURELLE ET EXACTE DE LA FAVORITE DE SON ALTESSE ELECTORALE DE MAYENCE. [bound with:] REPRESENTATION AU NATUREL DES CHATEAUX DE WEISSENSTEIN AU DESSUS DE POMMERSFELD, ET DE CELUI DE GEUBACH. Augsburg: Jeremie Wolff, 1726 and 1728. Folio, oblong, 20" x 12.75". First work begins with 4 leaves comprised of the engraved title, engraved dedication within engraved allegorical and architectural borders, one leaf of foreword engraved, one leaf of text; plus 14 engraved plates (two of which are folding and bound here at the back of the volume.) The second work with engraved title and 27 engraved plates (of which 7 are folding.) Bound in 19th century 1/2 red morocco over cloth with old Chiswick bookplate to front pastedown. ***** First editions of these rare suites of engravings, rarely seen together, by Salomon Kleiner. The only other comparable example we find in auction records was a copy sold by Christie's on November 9, 2010 (Livres Anciens, sale 5607, lot 31.) Kleiner was commissioned in 1723 by Friedrich Karl von Schonborn to produce these works which would document his castles and gardens in Austria and Germany. This resulted in three works, of which these represent two. A truly stunning collection of plates. "More attention is given to the lavish gardens, often endowed with sumptuous cascades and grottoes, than to the houses themselves. Among the twenty-seven plates devoted to Weissenstein and Geubach, however, are several excellent examples of baroque interiors" (Millard Northern Europe 50-51.)