Baumeister, Joseph Edler von | Die Welt in Bildern vorzuglich zum Vergnugen und Unterricht der Jugend

Baumeister, Joseph Edler von

Die Welt in Bildern vorzuglich zum Vergnugen und Unterricht der Jugend. Vierter Band. Vienna: “Gedruckt und verlegt in der K. K. priv. von Vaumeristerischen Buchdruckeren,” 1791

4to (265 x 215 mm). Hand-colored engraved vignettes on title and last text leaf, 23 hand-colored plates (the last numbered 24; copies are often described as having 24 plates, though 24 is a vignette). Modern green morocco.

First edition. “The volume described was published as the fourth number of Die Welt in Bildern (6 vols., Vienna, 1788-92), which was directed towards juveniles. The set's focus was to show the young reader a comprehensive view of the world through realistic pictures. This part treats things dug from the earth by marvelously illustrating a wide variety of minerals, agates and marble samples. Johann Sollander [see note below] prepared the master plates from actual specimens, and his effort shows in this truly beautiful illustrated mineralogy” (The Mineralogical Record). The original engravings by Johann Mansfield are from paintings by Johann Sollerer, a Viennese painter of miniatures. According to Virtual Museum of the History of Mineralogy: “The work exists in two states. One with the title vignette and plates untinted, and the other with these illustrations hand-colored [as here]. The colored copies are printed on a better quality paper that makes the volume noticeably thicker.” Not in any of the standard bibliographies.