Jost Amman, “To Throw a Harmful Firebomb into a Battle Formation”, 1573

Jost Amman (aka Jost Ammon) (1539–1591)

“To Throw a Harmful Firebomb into a Battle Formation” (Ein schadtlich Feumer in ein Schlachtordnung zu werffen), 1573

Although this siege scene features the use of the customary solid cannonballs (round shot)—visible in the foreground at centre—what makes this image particularly interesting is the depiction of incendiary fire-balls (Feuerballen) being launched at the fortifications. These projectiles consist of a linen or flax pouch tightly bound with twine, filled with a combustible mixture of sulphur, saltpetre, and melted resin. Once a protruding wick is lit, these flaming balls are hurled in a high arc by heavy mortars seen in the foreground, designed to ignite the city’s interior.

Technical Details & Condition:

Woodcut on laid paper with letterpress text on the verso. The image is trimmed with a narrow margin and backed with a support sheet, providing wider margins. This woodcut is from page 148 of the third part of the German military manual, “Kriegsbuch” (War Book), by Leonhard Fronsperger (aka Leonhardt Fronsberger) (c. 1520–1575). It was printed by Martin Lechler (fl. late 1500s) and published in Frankfurt am Main by Sigmund Feyerabend (also known as Sigismund Feyrabend or Sigmund Feierabend) in 1573.

This is a strong, well-printed impression. The sheet is age-toned but otherwise in good condition, with no tears or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 13.3 x 15 cm
• Image borderline: 12.5 x 14.1 cm

References:

• Andresen 226.85v (Andreas Andresen, “Der deutschen Peintre-Graveur oder die deutschen Maler als Kupferstecher, nach ihrem Leben und ihren Werken, von dem letzten Drittel des 16. Jahrhunderts bis zum Schluss des 18. Jahrhunderts”, vol. 1, 1872–78, Leipzig, p. 365, cat. no. 226.85v)
• New Hollstein (German) (Jost Amman) IV.94.76
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1837-0616-23

Price & Shipping:

AU$237 (approximately US$167.20 / €143.57 / £124.93), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you’re interested in acquiring this remarkable German woodcut from the late Renaissance, 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 

Jost Amman, “General on Horseback with Two Soldiers”, 1573

Jost Amman (aka Jost Ammon) (1539–1591)

(Recto) “General on Horseback with Two Soldiers” (aka “Von Kriegs Rahtschlagen. Obersten Leutenant belangt”; “From War Council. Chief Lieutenant Prosecuted”), 1573, woodcut illustration to Leonhard Fronsperger’s  (aka Leonhardt Fronsberger) (c.1520–1575) “Kriegsbuch” (War book), published in Frankfurt am Main in 1573 by Sigmund Feyerabend (aka Sigismund Feyrabend; Sigmund Feierabend) (1528–1590), page LXXXVIII (88) recto.

Woodcut page, double-sided on laid paper printed from two blocks and with letterpress text recto and verso printed on fine laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 33.1 x 21 cm

Andresen 226-2r (Andreas Andresen 1872–78, “Der deutschen Peintre-Graveur oder die deutschen Maler als Kupferstecher, nach ihrem Leben und ihren Werken, von dem letzten Drittel des 16. Jahrhunderts bis zum Schluss des 18. Jahrhunderts”, vol. 1, Leipzig, pp. 360–70, cat. no. Andresen 226-2r).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200136620.

The Queensland Art Gallery (QAGOMA) offers the following insights about the three-volume publication in which this page features: “The Kriegsbuch was not made for military use, but rather as a sensational reference for enthusiasts. Both sides of the page show military figures surrounded by interchangeable borders full of trophies. Below each figure is a description of their role …” (https://collection.qagoma.qld.gov.au/index.php/objects/22676).

Condition: a strong and well-printed early/lifetime impression (based on the impression showing minimal signs of wear to the printing plate) with the surrounding letterpress text (recto and verso) and full margins as published. The sheet in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this excellent double-sided leaf featuring two large woodcuts of military commanders in elaborate frames, for AU$271 (equivalent to approximately US$170.51, EUR 156.29, or GBP 131.85 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$271).

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing German woodcut from the late Renaissance, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This page of prints has been sold

Jost Amman, “Military Engineer Holding a Shovel”, 1573

Jost Amman (aka Jost Ammon) (1539–1591)

“Military Engineer Holding a Shovel” (aka “Militair bij een ommuurd tentenkamp”; “Soldier at a walled tent camp”; "Scha[n]tzmeisters Besoldung”; “Treasurer's Salary”), 1573, woodcut illustration to volume 5 of Leonhard Fronsperger’s  (aka Leonhardt Fronsberger) (c.1520–1575) “Kriegsbuch” (War book), published in Frankfurt am Main in 1573 by Sigmund Feyerabend (aka Sigismund Feyrabend; Sigmund Feierabend) (1528–1590), page XLVI (46) (see https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=XoJfAAAAcAAJ&pg=GBS.PR45-IA1&hl=en). 

Woodcut; printed from two blocks and with letterpress text recto and verso printed on fine laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 31.3 x 19.9 cm

Andresen 226-46r (Andreas Andresen 1872–78, “Der deutschen Peintre-Graveur oder die deutschen Maler als Kupferstecher, nach ihrem Leben und ihren Werken, von dem letzten Drittel des 16. Jahrhunderts bis zum Schluss des 18. Jahrhunderts”, vol. 1, Leipzig, pp. 360–70, cat. no. 226).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum and Brown University Library: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.47827 & https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:239209/.

The letterpress text below the image is interesting as it explains one of the titles for this woodcut, “Treasurer's Salary” ("Scha[n]tzmeisters Besoldung”):

(Transl.) “Item / of the armoury master's office / a captain's salary belongs to him / that is / forty guilders / and he is supposed to keep two satellites / he has four mercenaries / make a total of 56 guilders.”

The text following the second heading (verso) is equally interesting ("Schantzmeisters Besoldung”):

(Transl.) “Item / the chief's salary is one month forty gold / captain's pay / for a fine boy one pay / two satellites four pay / if he wants to keep one or two horses to his own / that belongs to him / but that the same as in charge / with the royals The muster consists of and has to be used / in all the way like other stuff servants / they are entitled to a month of twenty guilders for their salary / that makes in total / a month of 80 guilders belongs to the supervisor.”

Condition: a strong and well-printed early/lifetime impression (based on the impression showing no signs of wear to the printing plate) with the surrounding letterpress text (recto and verso) and full margins as published. The sheet in an excellent (near pristine) condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this outstanding double-sided leaf featuring a woodcut of a military engineer bearing a shovel on his shoulder with artillery fortifications in the background— for AU$271 in total (currently/approximately US$180.52/ EUR166.28/ GBP141.64 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$271) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing German woodcut from the late Renaissance, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This leaf has been sold

Jost Amman’s woodcut, “The Tanner”, 1568

Jost Amman (aka Jost Ammon) (1539–1591)

“The Tanner” (aka “Der Gerber”), 1568, woodcut illustration to Hans Sachs’ (1494–1576) “Eygentliche Beschreibung Aller Stände auff Erden” (Actual description of all classes on earth) and to Hartman Schoppper’s (1542–[after] 1595) “Panoplia omnivm illiberalivm mechanicarvm ...” (aka “Book of Trades”; “A Panoply of all practical mechanical or sedentary trades which were ever devised by the ancients or by various men of our time, briefly and clearly set forth.”). Both publications were published in Frankfurt am Main in 1568 by Sigmund Feyerabend (aka Sigismund Feyrabend; Sigmund Feierabend) (1528–1590).

Woodcut on fine laid paper, trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 8.3 x 6.5 cm; (plate) 8 x 6.1 cm.

TIB 20.8.100 (Jane S Peters [ed.] 1985, “The Illustrated Bartsch: German Masters of the Sixteenth Century: Jost Amman: Woodcuts, continued”, vol. 20, Part 2, New York, Abaris Books, p. 692, cat. no. 8.100 [371]); New Hollstein 51.100.

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1904-0206-103-99.

Condition: a strong and well-printed early/lifetime impression (based on the impression showing no signs of wear to the printing plate). Beyond a restored nick to the margin at the lower left corner and a small hole above the worker on the left, the sheet in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears or significant stains.

I am selling this woodcut of outstanding quality showing the tanning process in a stream with tanner at work scraping a hide that has been prepared by another worker further away—note the cow hide with its horned head and long tail still attached draped over a beam at right suggesting that it’s leather being processed—for AU $268 in total (currently/approximately US $177.55/ EUR 164.89/ GBP 141.22 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $268) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing German woodcut from the late Renaissance, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

Jost Amman’s woodcut, “Der Bader”, c.1568

Jost Amman (aka Jost Ammon) (1539–1591)

“Der Bader” (The Bather) (aka “The Bathhouse Proprietor” [TIB title]), c.1568, a woodcut illustration to Hans Sachs’ (1494–1576) “Eygentliche Beschreibung Aller Stände auff Erden” (Actual description of all classes on earth) (which this impression belongs) and to Hartman Schoppper’s (1542–after 1595) “Panoplia omnivm illiberalivm mechanicarvm ...” (aka “Book of Trades”; “A Panoply of all practical mechanical or sedentary trades which were ever devised by the ancients or by various men of our time, briefly and clearly set forth.”). Both publications were published in Frankfurt am Main in 1568 by Sigmund Feyerabend (aka Sigismund Feyrabend; Sigmund Feierabend) (1528-1590).

Woodcut on fine laid paper with letterpress text and full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 17.8 x 13 cm; (plate) 7.9 x 6 cm.

TIB 20.8.95 (Jane S Peters [ed.] 1985, “The Illustrated Bartsch: German Masters of the Sixteenth Century: Jost Amman: Woodcuts, continued”, vol. 20, Part 2, New York, Abaris Books, p. 691, cat. no. 8.95 [371]); New Hollstein 51.95.

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1904-0206-103-94.

Condition: a strong and well-printed early/lifetime impression (based on the impression showing no signs of wear to the printing plate) in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains for signs of handling.

I am selling this woodcut of outstanding quality showing a bathhouse attendant engaged in the rarely portrayed scene of cupping a man and a woman with two children being bathed, for AU$268 (currently US$174.62/EUR161.76/GBP138.26 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing German woodcut from the late Renaissance, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold