(AUCTION CATALOGUE: DERSCHAU, H.A., Freiherr von). Verzeichniss der seltenen Kunst-Sammlungen von Oehlgemälden...Majolika, Kunstwerken in Bronze u.a. Metallen...mathemathischen Instrumenten...Handzeichnungen, Wassermalereyen mit Gold aufgehöht...Manuscripten und Büchern aus den Hauptfächern der Wissenschaften des dahier verstorbenen Königlich-Preusischen Hauptmanns Herrn Hans Albrecht von Derschau...
welche zu Nürnberg...den 1ten August 1825, und an den folgenden Tagen...versteigert werden sollen. vi, [6], 90 pp.; [2], 282 pp.; [2], 250 pp. Three parts in two vols. Thick 8vo, cont. marbled boards (hinges & corners a little worn), spines gilt, green leather lettering pieces on spines. Nuremberg: Schmidmer, 1825. An annotated copy, priced throughout and with buyer's names in a neat contemporary hand of the sale catalogue of the large and extraordinary art, book, and manuscript collection of Hans Albrecht, Freiherr von Derschau (d. 1824), a member of the prominent Polish family long resident in Prussia. In the same hand there are numerous annotations throughout (see below). There are about 6000 lots and the catalogue includes Old Master paintings, illuminated MSS., prints and drawings, illustrated books, etc., etc. The range and quality of material is quite amazing. This copy has been annotated by an unknown print dealer executing bids for a variety of clients (among them the King of Saxony) whose names, interests, collecting peculiarities and name abbreviations are noted on the front endpapers and on an extra sheet bound in. We note the following annotations: bids executed for Baron Ambach should not exceed prices discussed as he tends to be nervous; Rupprecht is only interested in the Altdorfer prints; Rudolf von Freyberg is also interested in the Altdorfer prints but is a stickler for condition; Merkel would like to acquire some Altdorfer prints, failing that would be happy with some Dürer prints; the King of Saxony is interested in a variety of objects, those marked with two ticks he is particularly keen on, those marked with one less so, etc. There are also detailed notes on Schenk von Gerstäcker, von Hermann, the Royal Print Cabinet, Albers, Nagler, Sommer, Kränner, Heyse, Louis Nagel, Prestel, Hargen and a few more. The dealer also gives a wealth of information (sometimes surprisingly detailed and precise) about condition, attributions, and print states in the margins of a number of lots. These condition reports are sometimes in red ink. Derschau, an officer in the Prussian army, spent his life pursuing his literary and artistic interests and assembling his collection. In 1780 he managed to discover and acquire numerous woodblocks from the collection of Willibald Pirckheimer which he sold, together with a large number of prints, to the King of Prussia in 1817. Our dealer notes that the collection of stained glass was sold to Berlin prior to the auction. This is a fine catalogue, compiled using Derschau's own notes (see Lugt Marques des Collections, 2510).
$US3500
This item is listed on Bibliopoly by Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.; click here for further details.