380 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



the great crown ; six on paper marked with the balance ; and one on 

 paper having the mark known as No. 42 of Hanssmann. 



The year 1511 is remarkable for Diirer having undertaken the sys- 

 tematic issue of several works which up to this period probably cir- 

 culated in a more or less fragmentary manner. It is true that his 

 "Apocalypse" appeared in 1498, with both German and Latin text; 

 but he added to it for the first time a title-page, and issued it complete 

 in 1 5 1 1 . In this year he got Latin descriptive verses prepared by the 

 monk Benedict Chelidonius, of the cloister of St. Giles, in Niirnberg, and 

 appended them to the completed series of the "Life of the Yirgin," to 

 those of his " Great Passion," and also to those of the "Lesser Life of 

 Christ," adding, in addition to all of them, his well-known caution 

 against piracy, He us tu insidiator, &c, words that form the first distinct 

 claim of an artist to the copyright and profits of the labours of his intel- 

 lect. All these complete editions were issued during the year 1511, 

 and bear on them that date clearly printed. Hence, whatever doubts 

 may be entertained regarding the appearance of earlier editions, this at 

 least is certain, that the work I now show is dated 1511. 



We have an additional identification thereof in the special character 

 of the typography of the Latin verses, compared with that of received 

 ordinary impressions of the 1511 prints, with which it agrees in every 

 respect, with the exceptions to be mentioned. 



Its special claims to our notice appear to be : — 



1 . It is printed on paper of unusually thick description. The square 

 4to sheets are of their full size, with rough edges, just as they left the 

 paper-maker's frames. All the ordinary impressions are upon oblong 

 folio sheets of thinner paper : from this feature alone it would be re- 

 cognised as an artist's proof copy. This thick hand-made paper, with 

 its wire-marks, offers no example of "water-mark," so far as I can 

 ascertain — an observation worthy of note. All students of Diirer' s 

 productions know the peculiar value that is attached in descriptive 

 works to the water-mark, for identification of early impressions of the 

 plates, but this paper appears to have been so thick, that its maker 

 considered a distinctive water-mark unnecessary. 



2. In this, again, consists its claim to our special attention. In every 

 impression of these woodcuts that I have enjoyed the opportunity of 

 studying, belonging to the edition of 1511, in either London or Paris, 

 the verses of Chelidonius are imprinted on the back or verso of the 

 woodcut. In this they are executed upon special and detached sheets, 

 bound up alternately with the plates ; and the caution against imitators, 

 which in ordinary copies is printed beneath the margin of the last 

 plate, is here honoured with an entire and separate sheet for itself. 



These peculiarities enable us to recognise the book under conside- 

 ration as a unique and peculiar impression designed for some distinct 

 object, and not for general circulation. It is, in fact, what we term a 

 " presentation copy " for gift to some esteemed friend or distinguished 

 personage ; and I am induced to think it was thus given to one whom 

 Diirer held in special respect, his friend Bilibald Pirkkehncr. Clear 



