Dance of death Merian, Mathäus (and Anton Chovin) Dance of Death, as it is artificially depicted and can be seen as a mirror of the human condition in the city of Basel, famous throughout the world. After the original brought in copper together with a description of the city of Basel. (copper title). La danse des morts, comme elle est dépeinte dans la louable et célèbre ville de Basle, pour servir d'un miroir de la nature humaine ...(title page). With engraved title. With engraved title, 43 large-format copperplate etchings in the text by Anton Chovin after Matthäus Merian, 1 title vign. and 5 vign. in woodcut. Basel, Joh.(ann) Rud.(olf) Im-Hof, 1744 (recte 1789). 1 sheet. (empty), 190 p., 1 sheet. (blank). Cl.-4°. Marbled boards. Central binding over 3 bands with moulded boards on three sides. Cut. Massmann 75.10. - Brunet III.1650. - Pfister 1125. - The "Basler Totentanz" was painted around 1440 on the inside of the churchyard wall of the former preacher's monastery in Basel (demolished in 1805). - "Without Merian's copy of the Dance of Death, with its important information on the genesis and history of this unfortunately lost work of art, no scholar of Basel murals can do without it. The subject, which has been taken up again and again, remains incomplete without Merian's commentary." (Wüthrich III, 351). - "The work was published in 1774 (and again in 1756 and 1789) by Johann Rudolf Imhof in Basel with very exact copy etchings (copper engravings) by Jacques-Antony Chovin in a manner very comparable to Merian's editions." (ibid. 349). - Provenance: - Owner's stamp "Ex Libris Franc. Carteron Doct. Medici. Trecis." on front cover and engraved title. Title. - Binding bumped at corners and edges, rubbed, a few pages browned and fingerstained in places at margins, otherwise well-preserved, the etchings fresh and strong. With engraved title, 43 large-format copperplate etchings in the text by Anton Chovin after Matthäus Merian, 1 wood-cut title vignette and 5 further wood-cut vignettes. - The 'Basler Totentanz' was painted around 1440 on the inside of the churchyard wall of the former preacher's monastery in Basel (demolished in 1805). - 'Without Merian's copy of the Dance of Death, with its important information on the genesis and history of this unfortunately lost work of art, no scholar of Basel murals can do without it. The subject, which has been taken up again and again, remains incomplete without Merian's commentary.' (Wüthrich III, 351). - 'The work was published in 1774 (and again in 1756 and 1789) by Johann Rudolf Imhof in Basel with very exact copies of etchings by Jacques-Antony Chovin in a manner very comparable to Merian's editions.' (ibid. 349). - Provenance: - Owner's stamp 'Ex Libris Franc. Carteron Doct. Medici. Trecis." on printed french title and engraved title. - Cover bumped at the corners and edges, generally somewhat worn, a few pages browned and finger-stained in places at margins, otherwise well-preserved, the etchings fresh and vibrant. This lot is taxed. A premium of 24.95% will be added to the hammer price and 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) to the final invoice amount in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.