Ridinger – von Gutmann – Schwarz, Ign(az). Katalog einer Ridinger-Sammlung (Catalogue of the Gutmann Ridinger collection). 2 vols. Vienna, author’s edition, 1910. 4to. XX, 210; XI, 169 pp. With (inside the text put on over those which were already printed along with the text as generally for the Arabic numbered copies)

Finely richly gilt orig. calf-vellum on 5 ribs with two dark red back plates and equal floral ornaments with gilt lines in the free fields, even

gilt  capital  ribbons ,

twofold double line floral corner pieces at the inner and rosette in the outer square resp., all in gold, the

marbled fly-leaves à la Pompadour parts of Gutmann’s legendary Marjoribank Folios in marbled orig. slip cases lined with Moiré. Gilt edges.

the covering letter of 6^th September 1951, with which the antiquarian bookseller Robert Alder in Bern sends the copy on behalf of Mr. von Gutmann to Mrs. Dr. Waeckerlin in Zurich.

in only 202 copies, 200 of which numbered Arabic with the illustrations printed together with the text and only bound in interim wrappers. The two Roman numbered printed on parchment-like paper only, thus not “on parchment” according to the imprint. This private edition, accessible by 6 (!) indices, is

Worked by the doyen of the Viennese antiquarian booksellers and dedicated

by Rudolf R. von Gutmann. – Slip cases minimally rubbed, the backs of the volumes themselves faded to a fine white, apart from that

shining  in  almost  impeccable , untouched  freshness .

With 1606 leaves graphic + 12 Roman numbered drawings a fullness of items unknown to or unconsidered by Thienemann. That are 15 etchings + 126 (sic!) mezzotints , 23 variants , 2 additional portraits , 53 leaves after Ridinger + 51 (47 by Rugendas, 4 by his son Johann Jacob) published by him. In addition to this developed after scholarly criterions by comprehensive indices: initial words / artists / publishers / chronology / persons / topography. The numbering follows Thienemann.

Rudolf (1880-1966) was the 2^nd son of Wilhelm Baron von Gutmann and his wife Ida, née Hungarian baroness von Wodianer, whose sister Rose Anna on her part was married to Jules Porgès, one of the legendary African diamond randlords. Together with his elder brother Max they were heirs of the immense industrious and commercial assets, partly going back to the Austrian Rothschild line. Later he went to Vancouver. “So far away from Hitler, as far as ever only possible” (H. P. Kraus).

A part of all this mental and economic brightness the

Offer no. 28,886  /  price on request

“ At this time we are on our boat … I hope you extend the same faith in me as I have in you in paying for this sizable sum in advance (sight unseen) in the expectation of delivery … Best regards ”

(Mr. P. C., July 22, 2002)