The Herbal of Eichstätt
Basilius Besler

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oday we have the opportunity to perfectly reproduce ancient masterpieces giving birth to a new cultural value: instead of an only inaccessible sample, the easy availability this exceptionable reproduction is assured.

Printed in 1613, of the first 300 copies, among which that of Eichstátt is the most beautiful, only very few were given to the illuminators so that they could be decorated by hand.

• 3 volumes in imperial folio (43,5 x 52 cms)
• 367 Pages
• 1084 colour sketches of ornamental plants
• 5 frontispieces among which is the portrait of Besler
• The technique used is copper engraving

The facsimile is produced in imperial folio (43,5 x 52 cms) with the number of pages conforming to original. Specially made paper is similar in weight (170 g), texture and colour to the original. Every volume weighs 9.5 kg. Reproduced using a pressure copper plate press. All colours match those in the orginal thanks to the trial chromophotography, photographic comparisons and the colour accuracy of the press. Cover is in sheeps leather with decorations in relief. The binding is entirely made by hand.

Declaration of authenticity of the 1500 copies is produced in each volume.

Commentary

An integral part of the work, the commentary volume addresses the work from both the botanical and artistic aspects. It offers an interpretation of the contents of the work for a better understanding of its socio-cultural position. The Italian and German authors are: A. Menghini, D. Contin, K. Littger, W. Dressendorfer, W. D. Muller Jahncke.

Text in 3 languages (Italian, English, German) 286 pages in folio ( 29 x 38 cm) representations of all the images in the Herbal with historical and anecdotal descriptions.

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