Name: ABRAHAM BACH THE ELDER (CIRCA 1648-1680) AND MORITZ WELLHÖFER (ACTIVE 1640-72)
Brand: Five Broadsides
Price: 3500.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

ABRAHAM BACH THE ELDER (CIRCA 1648-1680) AND MORITZ WELLHÖFER (ACTIVE 1640-72)
Five Broadsides
five woodcuts with extensive hand-colouring and letterpress text
circa 1650-70
on laid paper, two with indistinct watermarks, the others without watermark
all printed and published in Augsburg, three by Bach, two by Wellhöfer
with small to wide margins
some foxing, staining and other minor defects, the subjects in good condition
(for further details see catalogue essay and condition report)
Sheets 300 x 374 mm. (and similar)

Karl & Faber, Munich, 17 May 1966, lots 54-58.
Acquired at the above sale; then by descent to the present owners.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

The lot includes the following subjects:
Abraham Bach, Aufflauff des gemeinen Manns/ wider den mit dem Gelt. ('A gathering of the common man against the one with money.')
Abraham Bach, Das Junckfraw Wägen ('The weighing of virgins'.)
Abraham Bach, Ein Beckenhaus/ in welchem man alte Weiber jung backe kan. & Ein Beckenhaus/ darin die alten Männer jung gebacken werden. ('A bakery, in which old women can be baked to be young again.' & 'A bakery, in which the old men are baked to be young again.')
Moritz Wellhöfer, Die Historia vom reichen Mann/ und armen Lazaro. ('The history of the rich man and the poor Lazarus.')
Moritz Wellhöfer, Das weise Gericht Salomonis. ('The wise judgment of Salomon.')

Due to their popular, ephemeral purpose, these moralistic pamphlets are very rare survivors. Created without much artistic ambition, they were made for quick public distribution and consumption, and very rarely kept for posterity. The relatively good condition of the present examples is all the more remarkable.
A similar hand-coloured broadside by Wellhöfer is in the British Museum (inv. no. 1999,0627.22). The British Museum also holds several broadsides by Bach, including one recording the occurrence of a comet over the city of Augsburg (inv. no. 1880,0710.549). For further information see: John Roger Paas, The German political Broadside 1600-1700, 14 vols., Wiesbaden 1985-2017.

More from

Old Master Prints

View All

Condition report

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

I confirm that I have read this Important Notice regarding Condition Reports and agree to its terms.

View Condition Report

The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

In addition to the catalogue description:
Abraham Bach, Aufflauff des gemeinen Manns/ wider den mit dem Gelt
- on laid paper, with an indistinct Small Shield watermark.
- with small margins outside the borderline and ornamental border on all sides.
- a repaired paper loss at the lower right corner, with the ornamental border skilfully made up with pen and ink.
- a brown stain at the lower sheet edge to the left, with an associated small paper loss.
- some other, minor stains and foxing.
Block (with text and border) 295 x 352 mm.; Sheet 302 x 359 mm.
Abraham Bach, Das Junckfraw Wägen
- on laid paper, without watermark.
- with wide margins outside the borderline and ornamental border at left and right, small margins above and below.
- two backed worm tracks in the left margin.
- some stains, foxing and rustmarks, mainly visible in the margins and text.
Block (with text and border) 288 x 350 mm.; Sheet 291 x 350 mm.
Abraham Bach, Ein Beckenhaus/ in welchem man alte Weiber jung backe kan. & Ein Beckenhaus/ darin die alten Männer jung gebacken werden.
- two woodcuts on one sheet, both recto.
- on laid paper, without watermark.
- with small to narrow margins outside the borderline and ornamental border.
- a repaired paper loss and associated short tear at the lower left sheet corner, just touching the border, skilfully retouched with pen and ink.
- a short nick and associated tiny paper loss at the upper left sheet corner, backed.
- some staining and foxing, mainly visible in the margins and text.
Block (with text and border) 290 x 360 mm.; Sheet 294 x 372 mm.
Moritz Wellhöfer, Die Historia vom reichen Mann/ und armen Lazaro
- on laid paper, without watermark.
- with small to narrow margins outside the borderline and ornamental border at left and right, wide margins above and below.
- a made-up paper loss in the lower left corner in the margin.
- the tip of the upper left sheet corner made up.
- with a vertical central fold.
- some stains and surface dirt, mostly visible in margins and text.
Block (with text and border) 249 x 369 mm.; Sheet 300 x 374 mm.
Moritz Wellhöfer, Das weise Gericht Salomonis
- on laid paper, with an indistinct watermark.
- with wide margins outside the borderline and ornamental border at left and right, small margins above and below.
- a small backed hole with associated staining in the right margin.
- a backed tear (circa 10 mm.) at the lower sheet edge at right, just touching the border.
- various stains, foxmarks and surface dirt, mainly visible in the text and margins.
Block (with text and border) 273 x 262 mm.; Sheet 292 x 343 mm.

All on slightly coarse laid paper with many inclusions (inherent in the paper production), the colours fresh and strong, the subjects generally in good condition.
Mounted, not framed.

Print Report