PFINTZING, Melchior (1481-1535). Die geuerlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen und hochberumbton helds und Ritters herz Tewrdannckhs . Nuremberg: Hans Schönsperger the Elder, [1517].First edition of this privately-printed chivalric poem celebrating the heroic deeds of Emperor Maximilian, one of the finest illustrated books of the German Renaissance. Theuerdanck was conceived as a deluxe production and Maximilian himself was closely involved in all aspects of its creation, from its composition to its distribution after printing. Maximilian called Schönsperger from Augsburg to the imperial city of Nuremberg to print the work, and a remarkable series of woodcut illustrations — among the finest of the German Renaissance — were commissioned from some of the greatest woodcut artists of the day. A new calligraphic type, traditionally attributed to Vinzenz Rockner, Maximilan's court secretary, was specially cast to print it. No copies of the first edition were available for sale. 'The whole stock of copies lay in six chests at Augsburg until March 1526, when the Archduke Ferdinand decided to distribute, through Max Treitzsauerwein, the contents of five of the chests to different German subjects as memorials of the late Emperor. The other chestful the archduke kept for himself' (Davies, Fairfax Murray, German). Adams P-962; Brunet V, 787; Davies, Fairfax Murray , German 329.Provenance : 5 unidentified hand-coloured coats of arms on front pastedown -- 16th and 17th-century inscriptions with mottoes on title – Johann Michael Spangenberg (inscription) – Andras Seidel (inscription) – Sir Robert Ludwig Mond (British chemist and archaeologist, 1867-1938; bookplate) – Harry Louis Nathan, 1st Baron Nathan of Churt (1889-1963; bookplate, his sale at Sotheby’s, London, 15-17 October 1962, lot 417).
![PFINTZING, Melchior (1481-1535). Die geuerlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen und hochberumbton helds und Ritters herz Tewrdannckhs. Nuremberg: Hans Schönsperger the Elder, [1517].](https://www.christies.com.cn/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_16018_0184_000(pfintzing_melchior_die_geuerlicheiten_und_einsteils_der_geschichten_de100932).jpg?w=1)
