Lot 200
200
BULL OF INDULGENCE – POPE SIXTUS IV (1471-1484, born Francesco della Rovere). [Bulla indulgentiarum Salvator noster. 9 February 1479/80, for the benefit of the church of St George and St Mary Magdalene in Nördlingen.] [Augsburg: Hermann Kästlin, after 9 February 1480].
BULL OF INDULGENCE – POPE SIXTUS IV (1471-1484, born Francesco della Rovere). [Bulla indulgentiarum Salvator noster. 9 February 1479/80, for the benefit of the church of St George and St Mary Magdalene in Nördlingen.] [Augsburg: Hermann Kästlin, after 9 February 1480].

Price realised GBP 15,000
Estimate
GBP 4,000 – GBP 6,000
Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, and applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see Section D of the Conditions of Sale for full details.
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BULL OF INDULGENCE – POPE SIXTUS IV (1471-1484, born Francesco della Rovere). [Bulla indulgentiarum Salvator noster. 9 February 1479/80, for the benefit of the church of St George and St Mary Magdalene in Nördlingen.] [Augsburg: Hermann Kästlin, after 9 February 1480].

Price realised GBP 15,000
Price realised GBP 15,000
DetailsMore from
Details
BULL OF INDULGENCE – POPE SIXTUS IV (1471-1484, born Francesco della Rovere). [Bulla indulgentiarum Salvator noster. 9 February 1479/80, for the benefit of the church of St George and St Mary Magdalene in Nördlingen.] [Augsburg: Hermann Kästlin, after 9 February 1480].

A rare survival with wide margins preserving deckle edges. To grant indulgence of sin by selling letters was a common practice of the Church in the late Middle Ages. The money raised by the sale of this indulgence went towards the construction of St George's church, a Gothic structure, which had a tower 290 feet high and contained paintings by the Nördlingen artist Hans Schäufelein. This indulgence issued 'Quinto ydus Februarii' 1479, and presumably printed not long after, is the earliest extant product connected with Kästlin's press, from which eight productions in all are known. The empty space in the last line contains the signature of Jodocus Pflanzmann (fl. c.1480), the Augsburg printer, in his capacity of public notary. Arnim, Schäfer, 316; GW M-42466; BMC II 362; BSB-Ink S-434; ISTC is00549000; Goff S-549.

Broadside (569 x 424mm). Printed on one side only, 77 lines including headline, opening eleven-line woodcut Maiblumen initial S, signed by Jodocus Pflanzmann in the blank of last line (central creases from being folded twice, two small collector’s stamps on verso). Provenance: Hertfordshire, Albert Ehrman (1890-1969), Broxbourne Library (collector stamp) – Schweinfurt, Otto Schäfer (monogram).
Special notice
These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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