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...

Jacques Callot, French, 1592-1635, Engraving, "Scenes From the New Testament", image size: 2 5/8 x 3 7/16 inches, 1635, inscribed: "Jesus adductam ad se mulierem adulteram absoluit."

Lady Seated, Contemplating is the title of this Ming Dynasty, Chong Zheng Ren Wu period (1642) painting on silk. Signed with red seals by the artist LAN MEI WEI

The Latin text discusses the origins of Turkish people and shows a man wearing a kaftan-like garment and a pointed hat. He is armed with a scimitar suspended from his twisted belt.
On top the hand-colored woodcut of king Pepin the Short (714-768 AD) holding sceptre and globe. Pepin was the first Carolingian king and father of Charlemagne.
Below is the figure of St...

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

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.

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...

From our European Collection, a very good 17th century copper plate engraving, most likely English circa 1650-1700, depicting a Chinese official accompanied by his entourage, with subjects kowtowing in the foreground and a crowd of spectators to the rear.

Size and Condition: 7 inches by 5 1/4 inches, very well preserved with only slight creasing.

Unusually large detailed engraving, 31 1/4" by 20 1/8", laid down on board, of Christ coming down off the Cross, this example engraved by Nicolaus Dorigny (1657-1776), and possibly after Daniel Ricciarelli (1509-1566), in turn after a painting by Raphael. The work is dated 1720 at lower left. There's a lot of text in Latin at bottom, and a close look reveals the names of the two above artists...

Nicolas Mignard, French, 1606-1668, "Odysseus and the Sirens". Etching by Nicolas Mignard after the frescoes of Annibale Carracci depicting scenes from Homer's Odyssey. Plate size 10 1/4 x 17 3/4, published by Pierre Mariette in 1637, with lettering in Latin below the image. Printed on a very early watermarked laid type paper.

Engraving, by the noted AEGIDIUS SADELER (1570-1629), possibly titled "Cottage Partly Built on Piles", from set of six landscapes, after a painting by the noted Flanders Golden Age artist, ROELANT SAVERY (1576-1639). Savery was an important Old Master of the Netherlands, and his original paintings sell for large sums at auction. Sadeler was a talented engraver, in demand by various artists who wished to have their original works translated into graphics...

Original etching by Jacques Callot LE MASSACRE DES INNOCENTS printed in 1622 in Nancy. Lieure catalog number 427, second state of two, good size margins, excellent impression of this important print. Small crown watermark on the paper, slight darkening in the corners where the print was mounted, overall in excellent condition. Plate size 134x110mm, paper size 157x127mm.

Three engravings, from a set (consecutively numbered in Roman numerals), but separate though loosely framed together, margins for the most part tightly trimmed, each measuring roughly 6 1/2" by 5 1/2". The scenes of the old towns are named in Latin, German, and French. Judging from the architecture, the towers and buildings are certainly from the northern part of Europe, most likely Germany. Artist is undetermined at this point. Some research could reveal that information...

It has taken some research on the net to determine that this unusual item is apparently an early 20th century facsimile of an incunabula (pre 1500 printing) leaf from a book. JOHANN GRUENINGER (1455-1533) was a major, prolific early German printer and publisher, who developed an innovative method for illustrating books. This sheet on rag type paper measures 11" by 8". There is text in old Latin, and an image of the Trojan Horse outside of Troy, the soldiers entering his side...

A PAIR of old engravings from the Passion of Christ series of 14, engraved originally in 1521 by Dutch old master engraver LUCAS VAN LEYDEN (1494-1533). My research leads me to believe these two are apparently later impressions printed on wove rather than laid paper, by noted Flemish engraver Jan Harmansz Muller (1571-1628). (Wove, as opposed to "laid" paper, was not invented until the mid 18th century). The talented Muller made skilled and faithful copies after earlier artists' works...

Johannes Wierix, Flemish, 1549-1618, "The Crucifixion", "Pilate Washing His Hands". This is a rare 16th century engraving with an image printed on both sides of the sheet. One side has 'The Crucifixion' by Johannes Wierix, after Pieter van der Borcht, the other side has 'Pilate Washing His Hands' engraved by Pieter Huys after Pieter van der Borcht. Each image measures 4 1/2 x 2 7/8 inches, published c...

Original etching by Jacques Callot LE MASSACRE DES INNOCENTS printed in 1618 in Florence, powerful violent biblical scene represented in a European city setting. Lieure catalog number 278, second state of two, excellent impression of this important print. In excellent condition, framed and glazed, not examined outside of frame. Plate size 13,5 x 107 mm (5 3/8 x 4 3/16 inches), frame size 11 x 9 inches.

Engraving with German head line reading: Survey of silver pagan tableware and coins, so found in 1633 at Wettingen under the earth and excavated.
The treasure was hidden in the wake of the Alemannic incursions of the 3rd century AD.
Matthaeus Merian was commissioned to document the finds before they were melted down and distributed among the Swiss cantons of the time.
The large size plates were carefully decorated and inscribed...