Photography

[Photo book] Hanfstaengel, Franz (publisher)

Für´s Haus. Blüthenkrantz Deutcher Kunst und Dichtung. Zweite Auflage.

München. Ca. 1880 4:o. 27 x 21 cm. Half title + title + 1 full page wood engraving + 12 mounted photographs + (12 pp. text ). All on stiff card board.

Contemporary blind stamped red cloth with elaborate decorations in gilt, black and blue at the front board and spine. Elaborate title at the font board. Gilt edges. Floral end papers. Some wear to the spine ends. Spine somewhat faded. Interior with the odd small spot. Very clean. A very nice copy.

The book contains 12 photographs repoducing important german art, such as Johann Gottfried Steffan, Otto Erdmann, Wilhelm Menzler Hugo Kauffmann and others. It also contains 12 german poems by Julius Hammer, Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter, Franz von Kobell, Karl Mayer and others. Books containing reproductions of art work in photography was very popular in the second half of the 19th. century, eventhough it was only possible to make black and white photos. Photography made it possible for the first time to exactly reproduce art and distribute it among a great number of people. But these kind of books soon became obsolete when fine colour reproductions became available. They have not been valued in the 20th. century. Most copies was thrown away, which means that these importatant documents on early photo reproduction of art are scarce today. Franz Hanfstaengl became court photographer in 1853. He was internationally renowned for his method of negative retouching. The present book was probably published by his son Edgar, who continued the firm after his fathers death in 1877, concentrating on art reproductions,

Item No: 2707