NOT SOLD. Saxo Grammaticus: Extremely rare Low German translation of Saxo Grammaticus' cronicle of Denmark. Matthæus Brandis [1502].

866/178

Saxo Grammaticus: Dyt is de denscke kroneke de Saxo Grammaticus de poeta ersten gheschrecff in dat latine vnde daer na in dat dudesck ghesettet is [...]. No place, no date [Slesvig or Ribe]: [printer Matthæus Brandis, c. 1502]. 4to. (c. 18,1×11,5 cm). 152 leaves. 2 first leaves + 3 other in facsimile (a total of 5). 2 leaves affected by brown spot (upper part). One inner reinforcement. Browning and soiling due to age and use. Most leaves are clean. Endpaper and flyleaf annotated in 18th century hand. Bound in, before facsimile-title, 4 pages of 19th century annotations in Swedish, signed G.A. Sparre. Book plates at inner end paper (Carl Trolle Bonde and Anders Anton von Stiernman). Old signatures on last page. Several marginal annotations in old hand. Bound in later half calf, binding loose. With the gilt monogram of CTB (Carl Trolle Bonde) on spine. Housed in 19th century metal box, with key.

“This is a Low German translation of the so-called Jydske Krønike, an epitome og Saxo's chronicle of Denmark. The original compendium is supposed to have been written at the time of Valdemar Atterdag, about 1360. However, De denscke Kroneke ends with the death of King Christian I and the assession to the throne of King Hans in 1481. Neither the year of printing, nor the printer’s name is given. However, the types used point towards Matthæus Brandis. The book is printed with Schwabacher types, the first time this printing type was used in Denmark.” (Thesaurus #189)

Beside this present copy Laurits Nielsen knows of 9 copies, only three of them being complete. This present copy is today the only known copy in private ownership. This important publication hasn't been at auction for more than a century (last time was in 1803.)

LN #242, H.O. Lange: Bogvennen 1895, p. 21–22, Knudtzons Bogtrykkeri (publ.): Den danske krønike Efter Saxo Grammaticus Oversat fra en bog på plattysk trykt omkring år 1500 af Matthæus Brandis. 2000.

Provenance: The Swedish Count Carl Trolle Bonde (1843–1912) and others, later the Danish printer, Fr.G. Knudtzons Bogtrykkeri.

Condition

Condition report on request.

Auction

Paintings, drawings & books, 20 September 2016