First Edition
of the First Independent
German Paper on Dogs
Diana. Blaetter für Jagd- und Hundefreunde (Leaves for Friends of the Hunt and Dogs). With 36 plates in wood engraving (c. 25-25.5 x 17.5-18 cm) from “Original Drawings by Friedrich Specht”. 3 vols. in 1 (all published). Stuttgart, Schickhardt & Ebner, 1873/75. 4to. 3 repeating richly illustrated titles in wood engraving, 3 ll. contents, 54, 52, 36 pp. Green orig. cloth with charming gilt and blind stamped boards resp. with illus. orig. wrapper for the full work bound with.
THE RARE ORIGINAL EDITION – Souhart 558 (erroneously 1872/78); not in Schwerdt – as according to Karl Meier in such a manner at the same time
the first edition of the first German paper on dogs
independent of an association
which was followed by a new edition without date (1880/81 or later) with text unchanged yet enlarged by 8 plates.
The back of the original wrapper with “(Plate) Contents of the Complete (sic!, 3-vol.) Work” as well as recommendation for “Room Decoration” of a poster with the head of a chien de Saint Hubert after Frdr. Specht (Lauffen/Neckar 1839 – Stuttgart 1909) whose present
36 plates dedicated to game (19) + dogs (17)
are up to the same requirement of wall decoration ,
documenting the able animal painter. Inscribed in stock with Specht + X. A. v. (Xylographic Institute of) C(arl). G(ottlob). Specht as the brother. Thieme-Becker erroneously list the set of illustrations as lithographs. – The articles by various authors – G. Lang , Ed. Vogel , G. Jaeger , Theodor Hering , Frhr. von Thüngen , C. Weiss , Rueff , Leop. Jos. Fitzinger , W. Pfizenmayer + three anonymous monogramists – regarding single kinds/races each. Besides as serialized item “The Illnesses of the Dog” just as a respective feuilletonistic contribution.
Text sporadically quite slightly foxspotted, only the first leaves of the 3rd vol. a little more, of the plates printed on toned light cardboard only the backs of the last ones affected just as barely worth mentioning the white margin of one previous one. Title leaf of I/II with stamp of the bookstore Kessler in Göppingen, flyleaf with name neatly pasted over. Front board quite slightly broken at the flyleaf, the back absolutely imperceptibly renewed. Generally fine copy of this
publication in volumes illustrated just as painterly as naturally
in its original binding with its rich front board design in shining gold.
Offer no. 15,394 / EUR 430. / export price EUR 409. (c. US$ 546.) + shipping
“ … and I wish to thank you for packing it so carefully … ”
(Mr. P. M., August 28, 2003)