[Holbein, Hans, the Younger]. Icones historiarum Veteris Testamenti [...].

€ 8,500.00

First printing of 1547, and the first edition to include the medallion portraits of the Evangelists. There were two editions of the "Icones" printed by Frellon in 1547, following the original one of 1538. The 1547 editions are often merely cited as issues, but the text was entirely reset.

An excellent woodcut book featuring 94 highly appealing illustrations, depicting scenes from the Old Testament as well as the Totentanz, likely carried out by Veit Specklin or Hans Lützelburger after drawings by Hans Holbein the Younger (ca. 1497-1543). Each woodcut is accompanied by a Latin text and a French quatrain by Gilles Corrozet (1510-68). With a Latin preface by Nicolas Bourbon (ca. 1503-50), revealing Hans Holbein's name, and a French preface by Corrozet.

Upper board slightly warped. Paper lightly foxed throughout; 2 pages rather browned. 20th century bookplate of K. D. Dahmen mounted to pastedown. A good copy of this masterpiece of early modern book illustration.