Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 165 3 Dec 2022
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Princess Thyra's Superb Set of the Catalogue of the Danish Royal Cabinet
Nielsen, G., F.A. MŸller, O.P. Kšlle, L. Spengler, P.F. Suhm and L. Praetorius [compilers]. BESKRIVELSE OVER DANSKE MYNTER OG MEDAILLER I DEN KONGELIGE SAMLING. Kišbenhavn: Trykt hos Hofbogtrykkerne N. Mšller og Sšn, 1791. Two volumes, complete, bound in four. Folio [41.5 by 29 cm], later matching black polished calf with all sides inlaid with red polished calf and bordered in gilt; front boards lettered and decorated in gilt, with rear boards impressed with Princess Thyra of Demark's monogram in gilt; all inlays richly decorated with floriated scrollwork in gilt; spines with five raised bands, ruled and decorated in gilt; red calf spine labels lettered in gilt; marbled endpapers; all page edges red. lxiv, 816, (4) pages including Erindring; printed title with superbly engraved vignette by Frederik Ludvig Bradt; engraved title within an architectural border signed by Georg Fahrenholtz; fine headpiece engraving of a coin cabinet, also by Bradt; engraved tailpiece; 18 engraved heading leaves; 319 finely engraved plates depicting coins, medals and seals, some by Andreas Flint or Johann Meno Hass, though mostly unsigned. Wear to joints, mostly cosmetic, but with front cover of second volume beginning to loosen; contents remarkably free of the spotting and browning usually encountered. An impressive set in a handsome binding. The monumental catalogue of the collection of the Danish National Museum, from the library of Princess Thyra of Denmark (1853-1933). Very rare and still of great importance, the Beskrivelse was never published for sale; only a small number of sets were presented by the Royal family to dignitaries and individuals distinguished for their knowledge of numismatics or expertise in other branches of science. A groundbreaking work, it is one of the most important numismatic publications of the 18th century. Usually encountered with the text and plates bound separately, this set is easier to use as the plates have been integrated into the text and the whole is bound into four more manageable volumes. We have offered only two sets in recent years: the set belonging to Mark and Lottie Salton (ex Edmund Nordheim) in 2021 and, a decade previously, the extraordinary set presented by the Crown Prince of Denmark to politician Ove H¿egh-Guldberg (which sold for $12,000 hammer). Brunet 29757: "Cet ouvrage, dont le text et les gravures sont Žgalement bien exŽcutŽs, se trouve difficilement." Clain-Stefanelli 16521. Dekesel N186 (including a 1794 supplement, not here present). Ebert 2055. Grierson 266. Gullbekk 71. Lipsius 41. Ex Princess Thyra of Denmark Library; ex Bruun Rasmussen Auction 852 (lot 5717).
Estimate: 5000 USD
Nielsen, G., F.A. MŸller, O.P. Kšlle, L. Spengler, P.F. Suhm and L. Praetorius [compilers]. BESKRIVELSE OVER DANSKE MYNTER OG MEDAILLER I DEN KONGELIGE SAMLING. Kišbenhavn: Trykt hos Hofbogtrykkerne N. Mšller og Sšn, 1791. Two volumes, complete, bound in four. Folio [41.5 by 29 cm], later matching black polished calf with all sides inlaid with red polished calf and bordered in gilt; front boards lettered and decorated in gilt, with rear boards impressed with Princess Thyra of Demark's monogram in gilt; all inlays richly decorated with floriated scrollwork in gilt; spines with five raised bands, ruled and decorated in gilt; red calf spine labels lettered in gilt; marbled endpapers; all page edges red. lxiv, 816, (4) pages including Erindring; printed title with superbly engraved vignette by Frederik Ludvig Bradt; engraved title within an architectural border signed by Georg Fahrenholtz; fine headpiece engraving of a coin cabinet, also by Bradt; engraved tailpiece; 18 engraved heading leaves; 319 finely engraved plates depicting coins, medals and seals, some by Andreas Flint or Johann Meno Hass, though mostly unsigned. Wear to joints, mostly cosmetic, but with front cover of second volume beginning to loosen; contents remarkably free of the spotting and browning usually encountered. An impressive set in a handsome binding. The monumental catalogue of the collection of the Danish National Museum, from the library of Princess Thyra of Denmark (1853-1933). Very rare and still of great importance, the Beskrivelse was never published for sale; only a small number of sets were presented by the Royal family to dignitaries and individuals distinguished for their knowledge of numismatics or expertise in other branches of science. A groundbreaking work, it is one of the most important numismatic publications of the 18th century. Usually encountered with the text and plates bound separately, this set is easier to use as the plates have been integrated into the text and the whole is bound into four more manageable volumes. We have offered only two sets in recent years: the set belonging to Mark and Lottie Salton (ex Edmund Nordheim) in 2021 and, a decade previously, the extraordinary set presented by the Crown Prince of Denmark to politician Ove H¿egh-Guldberg (which sold for $12,000 hammer). Brunet 29757: "Cet ouvrage, dont le text et les gravures sont Žgalement bien exŽcutŽs, se trouve difficilement." Clain-Stefanelli 16521. Dekesel N186 (including a 1794 supplement, not here present). Ebert 2055. Grierson 266. Gullbekk 71. Lipsius 41. Ex Princess Thyra of Denmark Library; ex Bruun Rasmussen Auction 852 (lot 5717).
Estimate: 5000 USD