Scarce antique limited edition,


THE DANCE OF DEATH,

By Hans Holbein.

With an Introductory note by Austin Dobson.

Henry Austin Dobson was an English poet, critic, and biographer whose love and knowledge of the 18th century lent a graceful elegance to his poetry and inspired his critical studies.


Printed Mdcccxcij (1892) by George Bell & Sons, London.


This edition consists of 500 ordinary copies Imperial 16mo, this being one of them, and 100 numbered copies on Japanese Vellum, Demy 8vo.


With facsimile reproduction of title-page of original edition: Les simulachres & historiees faces de la mort, avtant elegammet pourtraictes, que artificiellement imaginées. A. Lyon, Soubz l'escu de Coloigne. M.D.XXXVIII.


Includes Copies of 41 woodcuts supposed to have been executed from Holbein's designs by Hans Lützelburger and first published Lyons, 1538.

Appended are 8 supplementary cuts added to later editions. Accompanying each cut is a related passage of Scripture in Latin, with a quatrain giving its equivalent rendering in French, probably by Gilles Corrozet. Each cut is titled in English.


The Danse Macabre (from the French language), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory of the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death: no matter one's station in life, the Danse Macabre unites all. The Danse Macabre consists of the dead or a personification of death summoning representatives from all walks of life to dance along to the grave, typically with a pope, emperor, king, child, and laborer. It was produced as memento mori, to remind people of the fragility of their lives and how vain were the glories of earthly life.


The illustrator: Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497 – between 7 October and 29 November 1543) was a German painter and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style, and is considered one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire, and Reformation propaganda, and he made a significant contribution to the history of book design. He is called "the Younger" to distinguish him from his father Hans Holbein the Elder, an accomplished painter of the Late Gothic school. His Dance of Death (1523–26) refashions the late-medieval allegory of the Danse Macabre as a reformist satire. Holbein's series of woodcuts shows the figure of "Death" in many disguises, confronting individuals from all walks of life. None escape Death's skeleton clutches, even the pious.



Please check all photographs for a good understanding of the condition.


The book measures 14.5cm x 19.5cm.

Pre owned with signs of age/use/wear. Publisher's green cloth hardback, gilt title top of front board, gilt title on spine, dulled slightly. Overall cover is discoloured/faded/sunned. Some surface fraying/splitting along the edges of the spine, some chipped loss top and tail of the spine. Boards hinges holding well, the splitting of surface cloth only. Corners and edges of boards bumped and shelf worn.

End papers discoloured and foxed, slightly marked, inner hinges strong.

Contents is complete, no loose or missing pages. Overall text block yellowed with age, small amount of foxing dotted throughout, a few pages significantly so. Title page and tissue guard particularly foxed. Page edges a little rough cut, top edge gilt, dulled slightly.

A few previous owner pencil annotations added next to the Latin and French text, easily erasable but we left the decision to be made by the new owner. Please note although the introduction and woodcut titles are in English, the text opposite the woodcuts are in Latin and French.


Overall remains in good reading condition. A scarce edition, quality woodcuts, with as described signs of age, use and wear.


If you require any further information then please don't hesitate to ask. Please study all photos as these give the best indication of condition. Additional photos available upon request.