Maximilian I. - Pfinzing, Melchior. Die geverlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen und hochberumbten Helds und Ritters herz Tewrdannckhs. With woodcut title and 118 woodcuts by Leonhard Beck, Hans Schäufelein, Hans Burgkmair and others. Nuremberg [i.e. Augsburg], Johann Schönsperger, 1 March 1517. folio (37.5 × 26.5 cm). [289 (instead of 290)] pp. Leather binding over wooden boards in the style of the period, using old blind-stamped covers. With 2 renewed brass clasps. VD16 M 1649 - USTC 633810 - Goedeke I, 335-36, no. 4.1 - Panzer I, 408, 885 - Proctor 11180 - Adams P 962 - Muther 845 - Fairfax Murray, German 329 - First edition. - As mostly without the white sheet P5. - This allegorical verse narrative in the style of the medieval epic, conceived as a fictional bridal journey of the knight Thewrdanck, places Emperor Maximilian himself at the centre as a chivalrous hero. He is surrounded by malevolent companions on his bridal journey and overcomes all dangers. The Theuerdank is one of a series of ambitious book projects by Maximilian in which he wanted to immortalise himself artistically as a ruler. This first edition was produced in a specially designed typeface, which became a milestone in the development of Gothic type. 300 copies were printed on paper. The 118 woodcuts are probably the most beautiful series of the German Renaissance ever. Today they are attributed to a total of seven artists: Hans Schäufelein (nos. 10, 13, 16, 21, 26, 30, 32, 39, 42, 45, 46, 48, 50, 57, 58, 69, 70, 72, 87 and 105), Hans Burgkmair (nos. 22, 36, 44, 47, 49, 61, 63, 102, 109, 113-115 and 118), as well as nos. 20, 34 and 38 Erhard Schön; nos. 40 and 79 Wolf Traut; no. 14 Meister N.H.; no. 24 Hans Weiditz (disputed); no. 31 Jörg Breu and the remaining 77 Leonhard Beck. Two of the woodcuts were later coloured. The entire work, intended as a memorial project, was not sold. "The whole stock of copies lay in six chests at Augsburg until March 1526, when the Archduke Ferdinand decided to distribute, through Max Treitzsauerwein, the contents of five of the chests to different German subjects as memorials of the late Emperor. The other chestful the archduke kept for himself" (Fairfax Murray). - A copy with wide margins. - Partly with light finger and brown stains, in the lower margin with a narrow trace of damp and isolated, inconspicuously restored small tears, a few marginalia in an old hand. Sheet mii with mounted correction strip over one line. - Very fine copy with the woodcuts in strong impressions. - Provenance: Exlibris Lessing and Edith Rosenwald. - Donated to the Library of Congress, Washington. Separated there as a duplicate. - Private collection Switzerland.