The main woodcut shows the enchantress Circe in front of Odysseus and one of his crew members changed into a swine. Circe holds a beaker, which stands for her vast knowledge of potions and herbs.
The woodcut below depicts Samson with remains of the Philistine temple. Further vignettes show the descendants of Eli, and depictions of four Jewish judges...

Double-page with woodcuts from popes, kings and famous people of the second half of the 10th century AD.
As part of the world’s sixth age, the chapter deals with the origins and formation of the German Empire.
The Nuremberg Chronicle was published in 1493 by Anton Koberger in an edition of 2000 copies.
Beautiful late Gothic style. The fold paper sheet covers the pages 178/179 and 181/182...

Nicolas Mignard, French, 1606-1668, "Perseus Slaying Medusa". Etching by Nicolas Mignard after the frescoes of Annibale Carracci depicting scenes from Homer's Odyssey. Plate size 9 7/8 x 17 5/8, published by Pierre Mariette in 1637, with lettering in Latin below the image. Printed on a very early watermarked laid type paper.

Gerard Audran, European, 1640-1703, "The Triumph of David". This early triptych by Gerard Audran of "The Triumph of David" is taken from the ceiling of the Sacchetti Palace in Rome. The image sizes are 21 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches with a sheet size of 21 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches, 23 3/4 x 12 3/8 inches with a sheet size of 24 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches and 21 3/8 x 13 5/8 inches with a sheet size of 22 x 16 1/4 inches, all on early laid paper. Created in 1668, after Charles LeBrun...

A Dutch 17th century etching of a standing horse near a humble abode, 6 3/4" by 7 3/4" (14" by 15 1/2" in 20th century appropriate black frame), unsigned, and with no initials or other indication as to authorship. The work bears old pencil notations on the reverse side of the mat; there appear to be names of potential artists that were pondered by a previous observer in my position (including, it appears, question marks to himself)...

Original 1618 etching by Jacques Callot LE GRAND ROCHER (The Great Rock) from his series “Paysages Graves pour Jean de Medicis”, Lieure catalog number 276, second state of two. Powerful design, excellent clean print. Framed and glazed, not examined outside of frame. Print size 109 x 243 mm (9 9/16 x 4 1/4 inches), frame size 10.5 x 18 inches.

A fine copper engraving of the year 1596, by the noted Old Master JAN PIETERSZ SAENREDAM (1565-1607), featuring young couples in a festive mood, in a Dutch town at the end of the sixteenth century. The print (Hollstein catalogue raisonne #133) is titled "Feiernde und Tanzende Junge Paare" (roughly, "Celebrating and Dancing Young Couples"). It measures 12" by 15 3/8" inside the present mat and the piece is 18 1/2" by 24 3/4" in the contemporary strip gold framing...

Hand-colored page with extensive woodcut depicting the genealogical tree with the offspring of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah, and of his wife Funda.
The verso with further descendants as well as exponents of the line of Christ (Sale, Leber, Phaleg, Reu or Regau).
Page from Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle published in 1493 by Anton Koberger in an edition of 2000 copies.
Tower with battlements as watermark.
Rare hand-colored version...

Nicolas Mignard, French, 1606-1668, "Athena Advises Odysseus". Etching by Nicolas Mignard after the frescoes of Annibale Carracci depicting scenes from Homer's Odyssey. Plate size 11 3/4 x 13 5/8 inches, published by Pierre Mariette in 1637, with lettering in Latin below the image. Printed on a very early watermarked laid type paper.

Hieronymus Wierix, Flemish, 1553-1619, "Moses and the Israelites Beside the Red Sea", "Moses Leading the Israelites out of Egypt". A rare early engraving by Hieronymus Wierix after Pieter van der Borcht, printed with an image on both sides of the sheet. Each image measures 4 1/2 x 2 7/ 8 inches, 1583, a good impression on a very early laid type paper, published by 16th century book printer and publisher Christophe Plantin...

Etienne Picart, French, 1632-1721, engraving, "The virgin, St. John and the Christ Child", image sizE: 15 x 18 3/4 inches, LeBl 5 and 4, Provenance: J.W. Randall collection #2490, Picart was a student of Francois de Poilly and is also know as "Le Romain"

PAIR of copper engravings by the early Flemish artist JOHANNES STRADANUS (also known as Johannes van der Straet), born 1523, died 1605. Each measures 8" by 10 1/2" (16" by 18" in identical silvery contemporary frames). One image is titled "Staphae, Sive Stapedes", the other "Ser Sive Sericus Vermis". These works date to about the year 1590 or 1591. They are numbered 8 and 9, part of Nova Reperta, a series of 20 images that illustrated important discoveries of the Renaissance...

Original etching LA REVUE (The Review) by Jacques Callot printed in 1627, second state of two, Lieure catalog number 592. The print was done just before Callot started working on a huge print “Le Siege de Breda” and must have been done for better understanding of military formations. The print is in excellent condition, framed and glazed, not inspected outside of frame. Plate size 12.0 x 16.0 cm (4 3/4 x 6 5/16 inches), frame size 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches...

Portrait of Abraham Bloemaert. On the background a landscape with buildings and a windmill. 58th plate of the series. Inscription on the bottom: 'ABRAHAMUS BLOEMAERT, / BATAV, PICT. / Pictor naturâ est, usus vix ille magistro: / Arte hic egregiis nec tamen inferior. / Pinxit Aves, Naves, Homines, Herbásque Ferásque, / Et laetos Flores FLORIDUS innumeros'. Etching and engraving, varg type paper with a mitre like watermark ; total:8.5 by 5"

An Old Master woodcut illustration of Theuerdank defeating another knight, one of 118 cuts illustrating one of the greatest books of the German Renaissance, going by that same name, Theuerdank. The book is considered something of a chivalric romance, relating the fictionalized, romanticized adventures of Maximilian I in the course of his journey to the Netherlands in 1477 to fetch his bride, Mary of Burgundy...

Hand-colored page with an attractive woodcut showing heavily armed Amazons, who must have appeared very alien at the time...

A fine old wood engraving dating to the sixteenth century, the title apparently "Saint Paul Giving a Letter to a Messenger" according to handwritten notes on the backing, which also relate that this is from the Biblia series. The artist HANS BROSAMER (circa 1506-1554) was born at Fulda in central Germany. He became known for his fine oil portraits, but also for his wood engravings and copper engravings, many produced for various editions of Luther's German Bible...

Six original 32 etchings by Jacques Callot comprising the full series LES PENITENTS ET PENITENTES, Lieure catalog numbers 1315-1319, second state of two except for the frontispiece, which is the first state. Wonderful designs, excellent clean prints. Framed and glazed, not examined outside of frame. Average print size 65 x 43 mm (2 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches), frame size 12 x 14 inches.