AUTHOR: HANS MIELICH

LANGUAGE: GERMAN

DATE: 1552-1555

PAGE #: 155

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT WAS COMMISSIONED IN 1552 BY DUKE ALBRECHT V OF BAVARIA, THE FOUNDER OF WHAT IS TODAY THE BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY. THE MANUSCRIPT IS AN INVENTORY OF THE JEWELRY OWNED BY THE DUKE AND HIS WIFE, DUCHESS ANNA, A MEMBER OF THE HABSBURG DYNASTY AND A DAUGHTER OF EMPEROR FERDINAND I. THE WORK CONTAINS 110 MAGNIFICENT DRAWINGS BY THE MUNICH COURT PAINTER HANS MIELICH. ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OF THESE DRAWINGS IS THE FRONT PAGE MINIATURE SHOWING ALBRECHT AND ANNA PLAYING CHESS, WITH ALBRECHT PORTRAYED AS A KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE. BECAUSE OF ITS OUTSTANDING IMPORTANCE AS A WORK OF ART, THE MANUSCRIPT WAS KEPT IN THE PRIVATE DUCAL AND ELECTORAL CHAMBER OF ARTIFACTS FOR ALMOST THREE CENTURIES, LONG AFTER THE ORIGINALS OF THE JEWELRY DEPICTED HAD BEEN LOST. ONLY IN 1843 WAS THE WORK PRESENTED TO THE BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY BY KING LUDWIG I.

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.