ii+88 leaves, complete (collation 2+i50, ii20 (16+1+2+1), iii18 (the third gathering is a very complicated quire with four intermediary threads, added leaves and stubs, but it is complete and apparently original in this state, as the first and the last leaf form one bifolio)), 2 flyleaves at front, written on paper of various origins in light brown and black ink by a number of different German cursive hands (one major hand in the first gathering which continues in the second, second hand from ff. 67 (66)-71(70), from f. 72(71) on, four different hands) in one column of varying lengths, modern pencil foliation in upper right, skipping one leaf after f. 17, no ruling, no decoration or other enhancement of script. The watermarks in the first and second gathering mainly from one source (a bear, turned 90°, with collar and tongue poking out, with claws, not recorded in Piccard or Wasserzeichen online database; also a castle or fortress and another bear, none of them identifiable) whereas the watermarks in the third quire are quite mixed: also the bear, but moreover two kinds of coats of arms with crowns, one of them (ff. 86(85)-88(87)) only remotely similar to DE5040-PO-24548 (1648 Speyer), yet so far unidentifiable , however, the two front flyleaves bear the same watermark as ff. 80-82 and 68 and 70, 64 full-figure pen and ink drawings in very fine condition, colored with washes, some details in gold and silver leaf, 22 smaller pen and ink drawings, probably added only slightly later, paper quite strong in varying stages of darkening, thin and thumbed towards the margins, especially in the third gathering, minor stains and spots throughout, some offsets of the washes of the drawings, green hues coloring the ground and some of the costumes often shine through, very few minor tears, no restoration. Contemporary limp vellum binding with flap, loose in binding, lacking fore-edge ties, splits at head and foot of flap fold, inscribed on spine “Schempart Buech.”
"Approximately eighty manuscripts survive as posterior records of the famous carnival parade (Schembartlauf) held on Shrove Tuesday in Nuremberg from 1449 to 1539. Most of the existing manuscripts include marvelous full-page illustrations of participants from the families who, year by year, sponsored the parade, and a few include depictions of the floats. The present remarkable volume in its original binding is not only one of the earliest extant copies but also one of the few to include drawings of the floats. It was customized for its early (and possibly first) owners, the members of the influential patrician family of Kress von Kressenstain in Nuremberg.
….
1. Made in Nurmeberg c. 1540-1550, based on the style of the drawings (we are grateful to Fritz Koreny for his expertise). Ex-libris of Iohannes Guilhelmus Kress à Kressenstain dated 1619, an engraved plate with his coat of arms and additional crests of related families (Schweikhart, Haller, Kress, Freidel) glued to front first flyleaf. The Kress family, which in 1530 was permitted to add the title “von Kressenstein” to their name, was one of the major patrician families in Nuremberg. It is quite possible that the present manuscript was made and/or acquired for the Kress family. Members of the family participated in the Schembartlauf (Schembart pageant or carnival) and are recorded here with their masks, names and coats of arms (see below).
2. Letters “MCP” written in lower corner of f. 1. It is not certain whether this is an ownership entry, which remains to be identified.
3. Ex libris Liechtensteinianis, engraved armorial bookplate of the princely library glued to front pastedown. Their shelfmark written in pencil on top of first flyleaf: “Ms B. Fach IV”, “64 Bl. mit Figuren + 19 Bl. bloss Text,” “165.4.8. c. 1561”;
4. In 1949, H. P. Kraus, New York purchased around 20,000 volumes from the Prince of Liechtenstein’s library, including this manuscript and other Schembart Books, 1949- 1954;
5. Paul and Marianne Gourary (1919-2007 and 1920-1914, respectively), New York, Collection of Illustrated Fête Books, their bookplate underneath the Kressenstein label; Christie’s New York, Splendid Ceremonies the Paul and Marianne Gourary Collection of Illustrated Fête Books, June 6, 2009, lot 309."
Measurements: 32.5 cm x 22 cm
