AUTHOR: UNKNOWN

LANGUAGE: FRENCH

DATE: 1540-1560

PAGE #: 130

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: IN THE MID-SIXTEENTH CENTURY, TRADESMEN WORKING FOR THE FUGGER MERCANTILE AND BANKING EMPIRE AND COMMISSIONED BY THE AUGSBURG PATRICIAN AND BOOK LOVER JOHANN JAKOB FUGGER WERE BUSY ACQUIRING NEW TREASURES, FROM SOURCES NEAR AND FAR, FOR FUGGER’S HUGE COLLECTION OF BOOKS. TO ENLARGE HIS COLLECTION OF EUROPEAN DYNASTIC HISTORY AND HERALDRY, A SPECIAL INTEREST OF FUGGER’S IN 1545-1550, HE PROCURED THIS WORK, THE LATEST VERSION OF THE ARMORIAL OF THE ENGLISH NOBILITY. THE COLLECTION OPENS WITH A MAGNIFICENT COAT OF ARMS OF KING HENRY VIII, REIGNED 1509-1547, IN GOLD AND SILVER AND SHINING COLORS. AMONG THE COATS OF ARMS ARE ALSO THE KING’S HERALDIC BADGES, INCLUDING THE TUDOR ROSE AND THE BLUE SASH OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER WITH GOLDEN EDGINGS AND EMBROIDERED WITH THE GOLDEN MOTTO: HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE (EVIL TO HIM WHO EVIL THINKS). THIS IS FOLLOWED BY THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE FAMILIES OF HENRY’S SIX WIVES, OF THE TWELVE MOST IMPORTANT PEERS OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND, AND OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER. THEN COME THE ARMS OF THE ENGLISH ROYAL FAMILY, OF THE ENGLISH NOBILITY, OF ENGLISH BISHOPS, AND OF OTHER ENGLISH FAMILIES. IN 1571 BUSINESS DIFFICULTIES FORCED JOHANN JAKOB TO SELL HIS BOOK COLLECTION TO ALBERT V OF BAVARIA. THE ARMORIAL TOGETHER WITH FUGGER’S ENTIRE LIBRARY CAME INTO THE MUNICH COURT LIBRARY, PREDECESSOR 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.