AUTHOR: BARTHOLOMAEUS FREYSLEBEN

LANGUAGE: GERMAN

DATE: 1502

PAGE #: 560

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS MANUSCRIPT FORMS PART OF THE MANY ENDEAVORS UNDERTAKEN BY THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN I, 1459-1519, TO FURTHER HIS LEGACY. COMPILES BY BARTHOLOMAEUS FREYSLEBEN, THE HAUSZEUGMEISTER (THE IMPERIAL MASTER OF ARMAMENTS), IT DESCRIBES THE SEVERAL IMPERIAL ARMORIES OF THE EMPEROR, DETAILING THE ADDITIONS OF MODERN ARTILLERY AND WEAPONRY THAT WERE MADE DURING MAXIMILIAN’S REIGN. UNDERLINING ITS PURPOSE AS A PRESENTATIONAL WORK RATHER THAN A SIMPLE INVENTORY, THE MANUSCRIPT WAS LAVISHLY ILLUMINATED, WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE IMPERIAL COURT PAINTER JORG KOLDERER, 1465-1540. THE HISTORY OF THE MANUSCRIPT IS NOT KNOWN. IT IS POSSIBLY A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL, WHICH AT SOME POINT IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY CAME INTO THE POSSESSION OF THE FREE IMPERIAL CITY OF RATISBON (PRESENT DAY REGENSBURG). ALTHOUGH INCOMPLETE, IT WAS BOUND AND INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY LIBRARY. IN 1812 IT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM REGENSBURG TO THE BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.