"Der Weiss Kunig".

237 woodcuts, c. 22,0 x 19,5 cm (blockline), 32,9 x 23,2 cm (sheets), laid paper, some signed "HB", "LHB", "HS" or "HSK", irreg. numb. 1-137 (none numb. 12, but 2 different blocks numb. 21), with title page, introduction [6], table of contents [8] and complete text (307 pp.) (some sheets sl. browned, some spots).

Good impressions with wide margins. In 19th-c. three-quarter red morocco signed Eedy Binder 37 Tavistock Sq, gilt-ruled and marbled covers, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands, gilt edges (marbled front cover sl. water stained).

1st edition of "The White King", one of the works that were inspired and commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) but remained unpublished at the time of his death. Complete with all 237 full-page woodcuts designed by Hans Burgmair (1473-1531), Leonhard Beck (c. 1475-1542), Hans Schäufelein (c. 1482-1540) and Hans Springinklee (c. 1490-1527) and produced in 1514-1516. Subjects include the education of the king, hunting scenes, audiences, sieges, battle scenes, etc. The text by Maximilian's secretary Marx Treitzsauerwein (d. 1527) and the woodcuts were only published together after the rediscovery of 237 woodblocks in the 18th c. A tremendous series from the German Renaissance and a milestone in the history of the woodcut.
Ref. A. Schultz, "Der Weisskunig", in: Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen der Allerhöchsten Kaiserhauses 6 (1888). - Hollstein German V.116-119.431-551. - D. Landau & P. Parshall, The Renaissance Print 1470-1550, 1994, pp. 206-211. - Hollstein German XLII.140-142.60-61. - New Hollstein German (Leonhard Beck) 134-261. - New Hollstein German (Hans Springinklee) 137-140. - New Hollstein (Liefrinck) 48.
Prov. J. C. B. (23 January 1862) (ms. note).