AUTHOR: UNKNOWN

LANGUAGE: GERMAN

DATE: 1500-1550

PAGE #: 140

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY BOOK ABOUT FENCING CONSISTS ALMOST ENTIRELY OF ILLUSTRATIONS, WITH A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF TEXT APPEARING AS CAPTIONS. IT CONSISTS OF 258 DRAWINGS ON 130 PAGES, MOST OF WHICH SHOW A PAIR OF FIGHTERS USING THE DIFFERENT CUT AND THRUST WEAPONS THAT WERE COMMON AT THAT TIME: THE LONG SWORD, THE SHORT SWORD, AND THE DAGGER. THE WORK IS ANONYMOUS, BUT IT OWES MUCH TO THE WRITTEN AND PICTORIAL WORK OF HANS TALHOFFER, 1420-1490, A FENCING INSTRUCTOR, FAMOUS SWORD FIGHTER, AND AUTHOR OF SEVERAL FECHTBUCHER (FENCING BOOKS). BY DISPLAYING FIGHTERS IN AN ARENA, AS SEEN IN FOLIO 6V, THE BOOK ALSO SHOWS FENCING AS A FORM OF ORDEAL BY BATTLE, AN ARMED DUEL BETWEEN TWO COMBATANTS USED AS A FINAL MEANS TO SETTLE A DISPUTE. STYLISTICALLY, THE PICTURES CLOSELY RESEMBLE THOSE OF A FENCING BOOK OF 1512 FROM THE SCHOOL OF THE GREAT GERMAN ARTIST, ALBRECHT DURER, 1471-1528.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.