When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Framed Dimensions:
• (4) are 9” inches W x 7.75” inches H
• (1) Two Men in Alliance / Reconciliation Scene: 9.5” x 8.5” (approximately)
The Book: Officia M.T.C. (The German translation of Cicero's De Officiis "Von den tugentsamen Ämptern"
• Printer: Heinrich Steiner
• Augsburg, Germany, 1531.
#### **The Woodcut Sheets (The Art):**
* Very good structural integrity for 475+ year old rag paper,
* hand-coloring using aged mineral pigments,
* bleeding, running ink, or active paint degradation,
* Unsure of any water damage or tidelines present on the woodcut images themselves, (appears only on mat boards but some pages show waving..
* Historically trimmed close to the print block margins (standard practice for 19th and mid-20th-century display),
* Uniform, gentle age-toning across all five sheets consistent with 16th-century paper,
* Minor print-edge softening hidden securely behind the mat borders.
#### **The Presentation Mats:**
* Heavy vintage moisture staining,
* Deep pink and brown water tidelines prominently visible along the lower margins,
* Moderate foxing and discoloration spots across the mat surfaces,
* Original mid-century cream-toned paper mats showing age-darkening,
* *Note:* Unsure the moisture staining is entirely restricted to these outer presentation mats (pages show ripples, waving, art paint has bleeds on some pages. I do not know to what extent the moisture/water damage shows on inside. (Received as shown) (See photos)
#### **The Frames & Backing Material:**
* Sturdy mid-to-late 20th-century dark wood moulding frames,
* Ornate gold-tone inner lips showing minor oxidation,
* Light surface scuffing, edge nicks, and corner rubbing on the wood,
* Original brown paper backing tape showing vintage water stains, tearing, and shelf wear,
* Original glass intact on all five frames with light surface dust, markings and or scratches consistent with age.
* Frames unopened and undisturbed to preserve the integrity of the historic Austrian export stamps, inventory numbers, and original annotations.
+++The provenance of this collection offers an exceptionally documented passage through the highest levels of mid-20th-century European art administration and estate cataloging. Multiple frames bear the official, historic circular blue ink stamp of the Austrian Federal Monuments Office (*Bundesdenkmalamt*), explicitly reading *"zur Ausfuhr freigegeben / Vom Bundesdenkmalamt"* (Released for Export by the Federal Monuments Authority). This rare and highly coveted mark confirms that the collection was physically audited, authenticated as a genuine historical asset, and legally cleared for international export by Austrian state cultural heritage authorities in Vienna. Furthermore, the reverse sides feature matching sequential gallery inventory codes (**259357-3** and **258365-21**) alongside vintage German dealer inscriptions noting *"um 1550"*, proving these five woodcuts have been preserved and curated together as a singular, cohesive collection for decades.+++
Note: Item has been described to the best of my ability but may contain errors due to translation. these are sold as is-as seen.
<~~Please look at the photos to further evaluate the condition of this item. Any and all visible flaws are showcased in photos. ~~>
••Feel free to ask any questions prior to purchase••
