Außerlesene Denckwürdigkeiten von der sowohl uralten als kunstreichen St. Stephans Dom-Kirchen und Thürmen zu Wienn in Oesterreich.
8vo (15.7 x 9.5 cm). 296 pp., including title in red and black, with 2 folding engravings. Bound in contemporary cartonnage, calf titling piece on spine. Browning heavier in front section, subsequently lightening a bit. Repair to clean tear of first plate. Notwithstanding, a fresh copy. Very rare first German edition (Latin 1721) of the earliest printed work devoted to the Cathedral of St. Stephan, the most important medieval building in Vienna, issued the same year the Vienna Diocese was promoted to an archdiocese by Innocent XIII. This illustrated work provides a detailed history of the cathedral, a minute description of its interior with transcriptions (and German translations) of its Latin plaques, and two plates of the exterior and floorplan. The text is in German, with partial inclusions in Latin. The Jesuit Tillmez(1691-1730) also enumerates the treasures housed within the church, devoting a chapter to the silver and gold vessels, and a second to the paintings, altars and organ. St. Stephan had its origins as a Roman basilica (dedicated in 1147); repeatedly burnt and rebuilt, it was enlarged in the 14th C by the great Duke Rudolf IV (1358-65), who also began the tradition of interring Habsburg monarchs in its crypt. OCLC: No U.S. copy.
* Gilhofer Liste 116 (Viennensia), 349; Gugitz III, 14198; cf. de Backer-Somervogel VIII.26.1 (Tillmez), VIII.1189.1 (Woebern); Peter Gugerell, Bibliographie www.ping.at/gugerell/ literatur_chrono.htm
Price: $1,850.00