Maison Bouasse-Lebel, “Sufferings of Jesus”, c. 1859

Widow Eulalie Bouasse-Lebel and Eldest Son (active partnership 1853–1864)

“Sufferings of Jesus”, printed in Paris, circa 1859—an antique French holy card, also widely known as a mechanical paper lace prayer card (canivet mécanique) featuring a printed prayer verso.

This holy card can be securely dated between 1853 and 1864 based on the documented publishing partnership of the widow Bouasse-Lebel and her eldest son at the historic printery address shown on the lower edge of the recto image: “Vve Bouasse Lebel et Fils aîné edit imp. 29 Rue S^t. Sulpice a Paris”.

Technical Details & Condition:

The card is composed of a central steel-engraved image featuring the head of Jesus Christ crowned with Thorns (recto) and a typography prayer (verso). The central text and image are integrated within an outer frame of exceptionally fine, embossed mechanical paper lace designed to perfectly replicate classical hand-cut lacework.

The prayer lettered in French on the reverse side translates as:
“He who applies himself to meditate often on the sufferings of Jesus Christ cannot refuse him his heart. He draws from this salutary exercise the horror of sin and true love.”

Aside from a small loss on the upper left corner and minor pale aging stains, the holy card is in very good condition for its age and the delicate nature of its fragile paper structure.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 9.7 x 6.3 cm
• Engraved image: 4.2 x 3.7 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Recto along lower edge: “Vve Bouasse Lebel et Fils aìné edit imp. 29 Rue St. Sulpice a Paris”
• Verso: “Celui qui s'ap / plique à méditer / souvent les souf- / frances de Jésus-Christ, / ne peut lui refuser son / cœur. Il puise dans / ce salutaire exercice / L’horreur du pé- / ché et le véri- / table amour. / Maison Vve Bouasse-Lebel / Paris 583” (Note: The number 583 corresponds to the specific model or catalogue series number assigned by the publisher).

References:

• University of Dayton: https://archivescatalog.udayton.edu/repositories/2/resources/330
• Wikidata (Bouasse-Lebel): https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q894945 
• École des Chartes (Dictionnaire des Imprimeurs): http://elec.enc.sorbonne.fr/imprimeurs/node/21913  

Price & Shipping:

AU$226 (approximately US$158.55 / €138.24 / £119.78), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this rare 19^th-century French mechanical lace holy card, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

Jan Sadeler I, “Noah Building the Ark”, 1586 (2nd copy)

Jan Sadeler I (also known as Johannes Sadeler and Johann Sadeler) (1550–1600)

“Noah Building the Ark” (also known as “Construction of the Ark”), 1586

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on laid paper (with watermark) with small margins.

This is twelfth from the series of fifteen plates (including the title plate; New Hollstein 41–55), “The Story of the Family of Seth” (also known as “Bonorum et Malorum Consensio” or “The Knowledge of Good and Evil”), after a lost drawing by Maarten de Vos (also known as Marten de Vos and Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), published by Jan Sadeler I in Antwerp.

It is an impression from the second of two states, with the addition of the plate number (“XII”) at the centre of the upper edge. As inscribed in the plate (“Genes; cap: 6.”), the scene depicts Chapter 6 of the Book of Genesis, where Noah follows divine instructions to build an ark (see verses 14–16). 

The impression is strong, crisp, and well-printed—near faultless. Aside from a small mark left of centre and another in the sky at upper left, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 21.6 x 28.5 cm
• Platemark: 20.4 x 27.1 cm
• Image borderline: 19.1 x 27 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper edge at centre: “XII”
• Along lower edge within the image border (from left to right): (on anvil):“Sadelerus / auct; scal”; (centre) “Genes; cap: 6.”; (right) “M. de vos figur:”
• Below the image in two columns of Latin: “Nec mora continuo exequitur Noe iussa tonantis / Materies abiegnus erat fortissimus asser. // Sic qui feruenti Christum veneratur amore, / Permanet incolumis curis neq[ue] subiacet ullis”

References:

• TIB 70. 040 S2 (Isabelle de Ramaix, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 70, Part 1 [Supplement], 1999, Abaris Books, p. 61); Nagler 1835 1835–52, no. 20; Le Blanc, no. 40; Wurzbach, no. 9.12; Hollstein 1980, vol. 21, no. 40; Edquist, p. 14, no. 18b; Ramaix 1992, no. 29
• Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (RABASF): https://www.academiacolecciones.com/estampas/inventario.php?id=C-47-010a
• Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200247628
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1959-0221-11-12

Price & Shipping:

AU$306 (approximately US$214.68 / €187.18 / £162.18), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this graphically powerful and superbly executed engraving by one of the most renowned of the Flemish old masters, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

This print has been sold 

Stefano della Bella, “Dancing Satyrs”, c. 1645

Stefano della Bella (1610–1664)

“Dancing Satyrs”, circa 1645 (1643–1648)

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with pale plate tone on fine wove (China) paper with small margins. This is the final plate from the series of six etchings, “Animali” (also known as “Six Sujets d’Animaux”). Preliminary studies for this etching and the other prints in the series are held in the collections of the Uffizi Gallery, Florence (inv. no. 7973 F), the Hermitage, St. Petersburg (inv. no. 43722), and Windsor Castle, Windsor (inv. nos: 4572, 4662a, 4662b, 4659, and 4611b) (see Rijksmuseum explanation: inv. no. RP-P-OB-35.000).

The plate is numbered “162” below the image at centre. While I am unable to identify the specific folio series associated with this plate number, and De Vesme/Massar [1971] do not describe it, the addition or amendment of plate numbers is not uncommon in later editions, of which this print appears to be a part.

This impression is crisp and well-printed, with production details nearly completely erased. There are glue remnants from mounting along the upper edge (verso). Otherwise, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or foxing.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 15.7 x 14.4 cm
• Platemark: 14.3 x 13.5 cm
• Image borderline (diameter): 13.5 cm

Plate Lettering (below the image borderline):

• Faintest trace at left: [“SDBella In. et Fe.”]
• Centre: “162”

References:

• De Vesme/Massar 719 (Alexandre de Vesme & Phyllis D. Massar, “Stefano della Bella. Catalogue Raisonné”, 1971, New York, Collectors Editions, p. 113, cat. no. 719; plate p. 136, cat. no. 719)
• Jombert (Della Bella) 128-6 (Charles Antoine Jombert, “Essai d'un catalog de l'oeuvre d'Etienne de la Belle”, 1772, Paris, p. 132, cat. nos. 128-6)
• Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200155739
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_X-5-149

Price & Shipping:

AU$278 (approximately US$194.91 / €170.39 / £147.74), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this lively, sparkling etching full of movement and glistening light, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.