Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 2368

Textbook for Emperor Maximilian Facsimile Edition

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During the Middle ages, the main teaching subjects were generally handwritten on simple blackboards, or on un-illustrated folding cardboard panels. Opulently decorated textbooks were incredibly rare, though a few exceptions did exist. One of the latter is this exceptional manuscript associated with emperor Maximilian I, which was penned and decorated in Vienna.

An Opulent Work of Art for Learning to Pray, Write, and Read

Composed about 1466 by imperial Chancellor Wolfgang Spitzweg, this codex was used by the young Emperor to learn his ABC's and fundamental prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary, but also jingles in Latin and German: more or less the basic contents of the time's syllabus. The Textbook for Emperor Maximilian is the oldest copy in a gathering of three known textbooks especially crafted for Maximilian by the very same illuminator, who nevertheless remained anonymous.

The Emperor's First Contact with Book Illumination

The brightly decorated gold and color miniatures, the illuminated initials, the daily-life scenes and the religious episodes, show narrow references to the manorial student. The cultural and historic significance of the Textbook of Emperor Maximilian has not been accurately determined by scholars. Maximilian I has been described as being "the last knight and the first mercenary": it was probably through this book that the exceptional prince, under whom the Habsburg dynasty became one of the mightiest families in Europe, learned to read. The charming artistic value of this vellum manuscript was possibly the first contact young Maximilian had with book decoration. This artistic expression delighted him so much that in later years he was to become a major commissioners of illuminated books.

We have 2 facsimiles of the manuscript "Textbook for Emperor Maximilian":

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Manuscript book description compiled by the publisher.
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#1 Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Standard Edition)

Graz: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA), 2005

Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Normal Edition), Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Codex Vindobonensis 2368, Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Normal Edition) by Adeva.
Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Normal Edition) by Adeva.
  • Commentary (German) by Pfändtner, Kalr-Georg; Haidinger, Alois
  • Limited Edition: 430 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of the entire original document, Textbook for Emperor Maximilian: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

Detailed scholarly commentary (104 pp.) on history of origin, contents and presentation of the manuscript. Facsimile volume in a slipcase, separate commentary.

Binding

Blind embossed, two-color suede.

Used and new from

€ 1,980

approx US$ 2,081


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#2 Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Real Gold Edition)

Graz: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA), 2005

Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Real Gold Edition), Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Codex Vindobonensis 2368, Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Real Gold Edition) by Adeva.
Das Lehrbuch für Kaiser Maximilian (Real Gold Edition) by Adeva.
  • Commentary (German) by Pfändtner, Kalr-Georg; Haidinger, Alois
  • Limited Edition: 50 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of the entire original document, Textbook for Emperor Maximilian: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

Detailed scholarly commentary (104 pp.) on history of origin, contents and presentation of the manuscript. Reproduction of gold parts in gold foil.

Binding

Blind embossed, two-color suede.

Our Price

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