Jost Amman's Kunst und Lehrbüchlein, Eric Quayle, 1971 facsimile

Jost Amman, Eugrammia Press, 1971

"A Book Of Art & Instruction For Young People" introductory text by publisher Sigmund Feyerabend in calligraphic German. Near Fine facsimile edition in blue velvet, 8vo, 6 5/8" x 5 3/8", some rubbed spots near spine, small circular stain on front endpaper and in verso not affecting pages, similar stain on back endpaper and "No 312" written in red ballpoint top right corner. Tightly bound on textured paper, 94 full-page prints, presumably derived from the artist's woodcuts with expected ink smudges and bleedthrough, unpaginated. Accompanying notes and introduction in Very Good separate volume, cream paper over boards, black titles to front and spine, goldenrod endpapers, cocked spine, some smudging on front panel, dents in gutter where fingernails dug in to gain purchase, 31 pp. Both volumes contained in cream slipcase, soiling, scratches, and sticker ghost, but sturdy, still doing its job. Jost Amman (1539 – 1591) was a renowned artist, illustrator and printer of Swiss-German descent. This 1580 title, according to Eric Quayle, expert bibliophile of children's literature, is the first illustrated textbook designed for children, pre-dating the "Orbis sensualium pictus", a more universally known first children's book by nearly 80 years. The 1580 edition was actually a reprint of the original with 27 Amman images added to appeal to the children of rich families. Because he drew directly on the wood for the engraver, there aren't many original Amman works remaining, however the plates . A lovely little volume of prints produced by a London small press that specialized in facsimile editions from 16th and 17th Century illustrated volumes.