Kaiser Maximilian Theuerdank

Plochingen und Stuttgart: Müller und Schindler, 1968. Hardcover. Near Fine. Near Fine hardcover in dustjacket and additional softcover both in slipcase. "The dangers and adventures of the famous hero and knight Sir Theuerdank", a complete facsimile of the first 1517 edition. This is one of the most important literary works of the renaissance in Germany. Superb line drawings and woodcut illustrations and costly embellishment earned it the title of "the first German book for bibliophiles". The variety in the type, prepared especially for this edition, the well balanced setting and the absolute harmony of text and illustrations are still exemplary today. Sir Theuerdank was the only one to be completed of all the sumptuous works projected by Maximilian to glorify his dynasty and his own person. The famous first edition appeared in 1517, the historic year of the reformation, after lengthy preparations and as a sign of special favor was presented by Maximilian to the nobility. Only very few copies reached the general public, so that very soon it was one of Germany's rarest books. this verse epic one of the first autobiographical key novels was written in the form of an allegory and describes Maximilians adventures on his journey to marry Mary of Burgundy, the lovely daughter of Charles the Bold.