AUTHOR: JORG BREU AND CLEMENS JAGER

LANGUAGE: GERMAN

DATE: 1545

PAGE #: 532

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE HISTORY OF THE FUGGER FAMILY CAN BE SEEN AS AN UNPARALLELED SUCCESS STORY OF THE GERMAN RENAISSANCE. STARTING AS WEAVERS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY, THE FAMILY QUICKLY EVOLVED INTO SUCCESSFUL MERCHANTS, BANKERS, AND NOBLEMEN, CULMINATING IN JAKOB FUGGER THE WEALTHY, 1459-1525, AND ANTON FUGGER, 1493-1560. THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN THE WEALTHIEST PERSONS OF THEIR TIME, EVEN THOUGH THE FAMILY BUSINESS WAS ALMOST BANKRUPTED BY ITS LOANS TO THE HAPSBURGS IN THE 1560’S. THE FUGGER DYNASTY STILL EXISTS TODAY AS A NOBLE FAMILY IN GERMANY. AROUND 1545 JOHANN JAKOB FUGGER, 1516-1575, COMMISSIONED THIS MANUSCRIPT DETAILING THE GENEALOGY OF HIS FAMILY UP TO HIS TIME. GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AND TEXT COMPILATION WAS CONDUCTED BY THE APPARITOR, ARCHIVIST, AND ENTREPRENEUR CLEMENS JAGER, 1500-1560. THE ILLUMINATION OF THE MANUSCRIPT, INCLUDING LAVISH PORTRAITS OF FAMILY MEMBERS, HERALIX DEVICES, AND PLAYFULLY DETAILED BORDER MOTIFS, WAS EXECUTED IN THE LEADING AUGSBURG WORKSHOP OF JORG BREU THE YOUNGER, 1510-1547, AND FINISHED AROUND 1548. UNLIKE THE REST OF JOHANN JAKOB FUGGER’S LIBRARY, WHICH WAS SOLD TO DUKE ALBRECHT IV OF BAVARIAN IN 1571, THE MANUSCRIPT WAS KEPT IN THE FAMILY FOR CENTURIES AND WAS EVEN UPDATED IN THE 18TH CENTURY. ONLY IN 2009 DID THE FUGGER FAMILY SELL IT TO THE BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY. THE ACQUISITION WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE ERNST-VON-SIEMENS KUNSTSTIFTUNG.

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.