Thurnier Buch. Von Anfang, Ursachen, ursprung, und herkommen, der Thurnier im heyligen Romischen Reich Tetuscher Nation, Wie viel offentlicher Landthurnier, von Keyser Heinrich dem ersten dieses Namens an, biss auff den jetztregierden Keyser Maximilian den andern, unseren Allergnadigsten Herrn, und in welchen Stetten die alle gehalten, Auch durch welche Fursten, Graffen, Herrn, Ritter, und vom Adel, dieselben jeder zeyt besucht worden. Alles jetzunder von neuwem zusammen getragen, mit schonen neuwen Figuren, sonderlich auch der Adelischen Wappen, auffs schonest zugericht, und allen adels-Personen der hochberuhmtesten Teutscher Nation, hohes und nidern Stands, zu ehren und sonderm wolgefallen an tag gegeben, dergleichen nie gesehen worden.

Frankfurt am Mayn: [Georg Raben, with Sigmund Feyrabends und Simon Huters], 1566. Third edition. Pigskin. Very Good. Small folio, 34 by 21 cm, 13 by 8 inches. [6], ccxliii, [3], [4], lxxxi. Early coloring sets this copy apart. Abundant woodcuts attributed to Josse Amman and Feyerabend. Brunet IV 1471. The illustrations depict, of course, jousting tournaments, but also banquets, music-making, courtship and festivities that went along with the tournaments and military marches and activity that were the real impetus for the tournament and its particular culture. In addition many of the decorative devices and many coat-of-arms are colored. This is an early history of tournaments, and surely the most comprehensive on the topic at the time of its appearance and still a meaty work on the topic, notwithstanding some inaccuracies. As might be expected, the illustrations show everyone in typical mid-sixteenth century attire regardless of actual period. Remarkable about the color is the variety of color employed in the better examples. While there are places where the colors appear to have been daubed in a looser wash manner, overall the colors were carefully and neatly applied and the result is a far livelier pictorial element than otherwise would have been the case. The color also served the practical objective of bringing out the detail. There are 116 color pictures in all, generally measuring 10.5 by 14 cm, with some of the images repeated a few times. In addition there are 74 pages with images of coat-of-arms hand-colored. Approximately half of these pages have multiple images on the page. Some coat-of-arms reappear several times. Finally counted were 26 leaves with hand-colored decoration or decorative devices. There are actually three parts of this book, or perhaps one might think of it as three works bound in one, and the other parts have their own titles. The second title is "Warhafftige Beschreibunge aller kurzweil und Ritterspil . . . " and the third part is entitled: Des Allerdurchleuchtigste Grossmechtigsten Keyser Carols dess funfften froliche Gluckselige Ankunfft . . . " (Please be aware that the German is Mitteldeutsch or early modern and thus the spellings are at considerable variance with contemporary German.) Bound in period pigskin, with intricate stamped ornamentation and a regal figure in the center. The off white patina has considerable soilage darkening very much in keeping with age. Later spine label chipped around edges. Small stamp at base of spine, possibly a library stamp, but this is a rare instance in which the stamp seems fitting and is not the least bit disconcerting. One of two antique metal clasps has piece broken off. Some chips along edges of the title page and some pages within have chips or minor losses and/or closed tears. One leaf had largish corner loss and was remedied with new paper and handwritten or manuscript version of the still comparatively small loss of text. There are a few repaired tears. In general stains and soilage are minor.