Basilius Besler (1561-1629) (after)
Wolfgang Kilian (1581-1662) et al. (engravers)
Botanical Prints
from Hortus Eystettensis [The Garden of Eichstätt]
Nuremburg: 1613 (1st ed.), 1640 (2nd ed.), 1713 [-c. 1750] (3rd ed.)
Hand-colored copperplate engravings
19.75 x 16.75 inches, sheet, average approximate
18.5 x 15.5 inches, plate mark, average approximate
Price on Request, $1,800 to $7,500 each

Hand-colored engravings from the first great botanical folio including tulips, peonies, roses, iris, daffodils, hyacinths, vegetables, water lilies.  Each species is identified on the print. 

Johann Konrad von Gemmingen (c. 1561-1612), who served from 1595 to 1612 as Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt, Germany, had a magnificent garden planted to encircle the episcopal residence.  This garden was one of the first of its kind, an inclusive display of shrubs and flowering plants, mostly European, but with some from Asia, Africa and the Americas. Von Gemmingen commissioned Hortus Eystettensis chronicling the garden through the four seasons, with most of the plants depicted actual size.  He retained Basil Besler, a pharmacist and botanist, to record the glories of his garden in a colorplate set, which Besler worked on intermittently over a 16-year period, on site or from specimens. A team of at least six engravers faithfully translated his drawings to copperplates, Wolfgang Kilian chief among them.  Over 1,000 flowers representing 667 species are depicted on 374 folio size plates.  Published in an edition of 300 in 1613, Hortus Eysttensis is a landmark work in the history of botanical art and considered one of the greatest botanical books ever created.

The prints are historically significant on several levels, showing a remarkably large number of tulips and other flower bulbs and chronicling the introduction of exotic species to Germany.  The prints survived the gardens themselves, which fell into neglect after von Gemmingen died, and were destroyed by invading Swedish troops in 1634.  In 1998, a reconstruction of the original garden opened to the public in Eichstätt.  The copperplates from which the prints were made remained at Eichstätt until around 1800 and disappeared several years later. 

Our selection includes an assortment of prints from the first, second, or third editions. The first and second editions are considered the most desirable. A superior feature of the first edition is that the details of the strike generally are finer and richer.  A superior feature of the second edition is that the text is not printed on the back (sometimes the text shows through to the front on the first or third editions). Inasmuch as the second edition does not have text on the verso, there is nothing to show through.  Please inquire as to specific print and we will provide information on which edition it is from.  The following is a summary:

First Edition, 1613:  On heavy laid paper. Text description printed on the back of the print. 

Second Edition, 1640: On heavy laid paper. Back of print is blank.

Third Edition, 1713 [-c. 1750]:  On laid paper, sometimes lighter than first edition. Text description printed on the back of the print. Plant names printed in larger typeface.

Condition: Condition varies, most very good with the usual overall toning, wear, abrasions, soiling, soft creases.  Some of the following characteristics present, typical for this work:  printers creases, scattered rust spots from iron in paper, irregular central horizontal crease (resulting when hand-made paper was dried), text from the backside lightly showing through to front, manuscript plate numbers.  Some with various minor chips or short tears to margins, restored.  Paper tone and margins may vary.  Please inquire for condition report for any specific print.

References:

Barker, Nicolas.  Hortus Eystettensis, The Bishop's Garden and Besler's Magnificent Book. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1994.  p.21.

Blunt, Wilfred, rev. by Stearn, William T.  The Art of Botanical Illustration.  Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors Club, 1994.  pp. 106-108.

Brindle, John V., James J. White and Donald E Wendel.  Flora Portrayed: Classics of Botanical Art from the Hunt Institute Collection. Pittsburgh, PA: Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie-Mellon University, 1985.  430.

Keunecke, Hans-Otto.  Hortus Eystettensis: zur Geschichte eines Gartens und einer Buches, Munich: Schirmer/Mosel, 1989, pp.106-112, 131-4.

Mail-Brandt, Maria. "Besler, Basilius Apotheker, Sammler, Gartenliebhaber, Verleger" Garten-Literatur. 27 February 2002. http://www.garten-literatur.de/Leselaube/persoenl/besler_p.htm  (5 April 2006).

Nissen, Claus. Die Botanische Buchillustration: ihre Geschichte und Bibliographie. Stuttgart:1951-66.  159.

Pritzel, Georg August. Thesaurus Literaturae Botanicae Omnium Gentium. Milan: 1950.  745.

Stafleu, Frans A. and Richard S.Cowan. Taxonomic Literature. Utrecht: 1967. 2nd ed., Utrecht: 1976-1988.  497.

"The Garden at Eichstätt." Taschen Books. http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/books/interiors_savoir_vivre/all/facts/01624.htm  (5 April 2006).