Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Wednesday, 11 March 2026

Jan Sadeler I, “The Descendants of Lamech,” 1583, after Maarten de Vos (3rd copy)

Jan Sadeler I (aka Johannes Sadeler; Johann Sadeler) 1550–1600)

“The Descendants of Lamech,” 1583

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on fine laid paper (watermarked), with a small margin at the top and wider margins on the sides and bottom. This etching is based on a lost drawing by the Flemish artist Maarten de Vos (1532–1603). It is the ninth plate in a twelve-part series titled “The Story of the First Men” (Boni et Mali Scientia), published in Antwerp by Jan Sadeler I.

This impression is a first state (of two), created during Sadeler’s lifetime, prior to the addition of the plate number (“9”) at the lower left. Compare with the second state impression held by the Rijksmuseum (https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200247626).

The impression is very strong, well-printed, and nearly faultless. It shows minor surface marks within the margin, a small number “8” inscribed in brown ink at the lower right corner by an early hand, and some offsetting of ink on the verso. Aside from these minor issues, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

Sheet: 24 x 34.6 cm
Platemark: 20.4 x 25.7 cm
Image borderline: 18.9 x 25.4 cm

Lettering:

Within the image along the lower edge: (left) “Ioan: Sadl: inue: et scalps:”, (on the rock) “GENES: IIII.”, (right) “M. de Vos figuravit”
Below the image borderline, in two columns of two lines of Latin: “Excæpit Lamech ex bina coniuge natos /Huic Ada nomen erat, vocitata est altera Sella. Hæc peperit Iabel et fratrem nomine Iubal: /Sella Tubulcain peperu, natramque Noemam.”

(Lamech begat children by two wives / One was named Adah, the other was called Sella. She bore Jabel and a brother named Jubal: Sella bore Tubalcain, and her daughter-in-law Naomi.)

References:

TIB 7001.025 S1 (Isabelle de Ramaix (ed.) “The Illustrated Bartsch: Johan Sadeler I”, vol. 70, Part 1 (Supplement), 1999, New York, Abaris Books, p. 44, cat. no. [7001] .025 S1)
Nagler 1835–52, no. 19; Le Blanc, no. 39; Wurzbach, no. 8.9; Hollstein 1980, vol. 21, no. 25; Edquist, p. 7, no. 11a
Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200247626
British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1937-0915-40

Price & Shipping:

AU$423 (approximately US$303.44 / €260.72 / £225.62), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this remarkably detailed and rare first state engraving, which depicts a biblical scene featuring Lamech—showing him confessing to his wives that he has killed two men, with additional scenes in the background—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold