Dürer (Albrecht) Hierin sind begriffen vier bücher von menschlicher Proportion, 4 parts in 1, first edition, collation: A-M⁶ N⁴ O-S⁶ T⁴ U-Z⁶ 132ff., including 4 folding, with 2 leaves (O6 and Y6) being discarded as usual (these leaves likely cancels used on the folding plates in those gatherings), Gothic letter, numerous woodcut illustrations depicting proportions of human figures, 4 folding diagrams, numerous smaller woodcut illustrations and ornaments, title soiled and repaired with piece at foot replaced and verso with old portrait in pencil and coloured crayon, some other soiling and water-staining, some leaves with repairs (including some of the folding leaves), mostly marginal, folding leaves with woodcuts slightly shaved, occasional early ink annotations, modern binding using a 15^th century manuscript on vellum over paper boards, preserved in modern cloth drop-back box by J & S Brockman, folio (280 x 186mm.), Nuremberg, Hieronymus Andreae for Agnes Dürer, 31 October 1528.

*** First edition of Dürer’s important treatise dealing with the proportions of the human body, influenced by Euclid, Vitruvius and Leonardo da Vinci. The work was still unfinished when Dürer died so its publication was undertaken by his widow Agnes, and it was soon translated into Latin by Joachim Camerarius to broaden its readership.

This copy with the woodcuts in book 2 bearing letter identification, possibly indicating a later issue.

Literature: VD16 ZV 23128; Norman 666; Garrison-Morton 149.