The Dances of Death: through the Various Stages of Human Life, wherein the Capriciousness of that Tyrant is Exhibited in Forty-Six Copperplates
by David Deuchar
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Very Good/None
- Seller
-
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
A very good copy of Scottish engraver David Deuchar's Dance of Death.
Second edition of 1803, with the plates lacking the decorative frames used in the first edition of 1786.
With 47 plates engraved by Deuchar, comprising 46 engravings of figures in the Dances of Death, one engraving of the scabbard, two frontispieces (one with a self-portrait in profile and one after Chretien Mechel with Deuchar's name replaced), and one engraved portrait of Holbein. Total of 50 copperplates.
With two frontispieces, title page, portrait of Holbein, two-page Preface and life of Holbein, 47 pages of explanatory text in English and French, and 47 copperplates.
The subjects of the Dance of Death are: The Fall, Expulsion, After the Fall, The Pope, Cardinal, Duke, Bishop, Canon, Monk, Abbot, Abbess, Preacher, Priest, Physician, Astronomer, Emperor, King, Empress (yellowing), Queen, Duchess, Countess, Noblewoman, Nun, Count, Knight, Nobleman, Soldier, Judge, Lawyer, Senator, Merchant, Peddler, Sailor, Blind Man, Peasant, Rich Man, Fool, Drunkard, Gambler, Old Man, Old Woman, Robber, Waggoner, Child, Beggar, and Creation.
David Deuchar (1743-1808) was a Scottish etcher, goldsmith and engraver born in Montrose and active in Edinburgh. He and Alexander Deuchar were appointed Seal-Engravers to George, Prince of Wales, around 1786. He published his Dance of Death in 1788, and A Collection of Etchings after the Most Eminent Masters in 1803.
In a full straight-grain tan morocco binding, spine with five raised bands and gilt tooling, marble endpapers, boards fine with slight wear along the hinges. Internally clean with a few pages light spotting and toning, copperplates on lighter, different sized-paper with some offsetting to verso, two with toning. All plates with crisp and fine impressions.
A lovely copy.
Second edition of 1803, with the plates lacking the decorative frames used in the first edition of 1786.
With 47 plates engraved by Deuchar, comprising 46 engravings of figures in the Dances of Death, one engraving of the scabbard, two frontispieces (one with a self-portrait in profile and one after Chretien Mechel with Deuchar's name replaced), and one engraved portrait of Holbein. Total of 50 copperplates.
According to the exhaustive Dance of Death website dodedans.com, Deuchar's engravings are based primarily on Wenceslaus Hollar's reworking of Arnold Birckmann's copies of Holbein's woodcuts. Many of the plates have the initials HB (Holbein) and DD (Deuchar) or Deuchar fecit.
Inspired by the re-appearance of the Dance of Death in the 1780s, many English artists John Bewick, Thomas Rowlandson and Richard Dagley would all bring out their versions in the Regency era.With two frontispieces, title page, portrait of Holbein, two-page Preface and life of Holbein, 47 pages of explanatory text in English and French, and 47 copperplates.
The subjects of the Dance of Death are: The Fall, Expulsion, After the Fall, The Pope, Cardinal, Duke, Bishop, Canon, Monk, Abbot, Abbess, Preacher, Priest, Physician, Astronomer, Emperor, King, Empress (yellowing), Queen, Duchess, Countess, Noblewoman, Nun, Count, Knight, Nobleman, Soldier, Judge, Lawyer, Senator, Merchant, Peddler, Sailor, Blind Man, Peasant, Rich Man, Fool, Drunkard, Gambler, Old Man, Old Woman, Robber, Waggoner, Child, Beggar, and Creation.
David Deuchar (1743-1808) was a Scottish etcher, goldsmith and engraver born in Montrose and active in Edinburgh. He and Alexander Deuchar were appointed Seal-Engravers to George, Prince of Wales, around 1786. He published his Dance of Death in 1788, and A Collection of Etchings after the Most Eminent Masters in 1803.
In a full straight-grain tan morocco binding, spine with five raised bands and gilt tooling, marble endpapers, boards fine with slight wear along the hinges. Internally clean with a few pages light spotting and toning, copperplates on lighter, different sized-paper with some offsetting to verso, two with toning. All plates with crisp and fine impressions.
A lovely copy.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Florilegius (JP)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- Flo277
- Title
- The Dances of Death
- Author
- David Deuchar
- Illustrator
- David Deuchar, Hans Holbein
- Format/Binding
- Full leather binding, gilt title
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- None
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 2nd
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- John Scott and Thomas Ostell
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1803
- Size
- Octavo, 21 x 15cm
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- David Deuchar, Hans Holbein, Dance of Death, engraving, woodcut, copperplate, macabre, Basel, rare, Regency
- Bookseller catalogs
- Dance of Death;
Terms of Sale
Florilegius
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Florilegius
Biblio member since 2019
Tokyo, Tokyo
About Florilegius
Tokyo-based bookseller specializing in European illustrated books from the 18th to 19th century, mainly botanical, zoological, costume and travel. Also Japanese ukiyo-e and woodblock botanicals, flower arrangement, etc.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
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