Creator
Johann Schönsperger
Title
Melchior Pfintzing, The Emperor Maximilian / Theuerdank.
Coverage
[Augsburg]
Publisher
Johann Schönsperger
Date
December 1517
Subject
Folio.
Description
Theuerdank (“Noble Mind”) is an allegorical poem describing the feats of the Emperor Maximilian in overcoming obstacles while pursuing his bride, Mary of Burgundy, whom he married in 1477. The volume’s importance to typography lies in the beautiful fraktur typeface, with many alternative characters and a large assortment of swashes, large and small. These were set as separate pieces which, in combination with the cast letterforms, form a remarkably close approximation to the appearance of handwritten manuscripts by scribes employing pen-made decorations.
Relation
LENDER: Jerry Kelly