1803 – Dance of Death by Hans Holbein | First Edition | Bizarre, Occult Art | Skeletons!

Throughout the 16th- and 17th-centuries, ‘Dance of Death’ works were wildly popular throughout Europe. Famed artists such as Hans Holbein created iconic and highly desirable illustrations depicting death in anthropomorphic states such as skeletons and ghouls. This 1804 edition includes both French and English translations, was edited by John Holbein, and is notable for including 46 sketches of Holbein’s famous art.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Dances of Death, Through the Various Stages of Human Life
• Author(s): Hans Holbein
• Illustrator(s): Hans Holbein
• Contributor(s): John Holbein (Editor); David Deuchar (Etcher)
• Publisher: London: Printed by S. Gosnell, for J. Scott and T. Ostell
• Edition: 1803. First Edition.
• Binding: Modern full leather
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Size: ~ 8 in x 6.5 in (20.3 cm x 16.5 cm)
• Collation: 47 pp; 46 engraved plates
• Illustrations: 46 etched illustrations after Holbein
• Contents Include:
  • English and French texts
  • 46 allegorical plates of Death interacting with human figures

Condition:

Very Good. Secure modern leather binding with firm hinges. Text block is complete. Pages show mild age toning and occasional stains, none affecting legibility or engravings. All plates are present and clean.

Why Collect This?

• Iconic Renaissance death motifs by Holbein
• Rare First French and English, bilingual edition

Item Number: # 29779