Rüxner / Francolin - Zwei prachtvoll kolorierte Turnierbücher - 1566

An extraordinary testament to 16th‑century knightly culture: Georg Rüxner’s famous Tournament Book in the first Feyerabend edition illustrated by Jost Amman and Hans Bocksberger, bound together with Johann von Francolin’s richly illustrated account of courtly tournaments and knightly games. Especially impressive are the numerous rare partly colored woodcuts with their vivid tournament scenes, splendid knightly armors, and colorful heraldic crests, as well as the historic leather binding with gilded heraldic medallions.

1. Rüxner, Georg. “Thurnier Buch. Von Anfang, Ursachen, Ursprung, und herkommen, der Thurnier im heyligen Römischen Reich Teutscher Nation.” Frankfurt am Main, Georg Rab for Sigmund Feyerabend and Simon Hüter, 1566. Third edition, first Feyerabend edition with the woodcuts by Jost Amman and Hans Bocksberger. Part I (of III). 6 unnumbered leaves, CCXLIII (recto: CCXLII) numbered leaves, 3 unnumbered leaves. With woodcut title vignette, 80 partly repeated and mostly partly colored text woodcuts, and numerous partly colored heraldic woodcuts. VD16 R 3544; Lipperheide 2887 Tb 10; Adams R 877; Fairfax Murray 374.

2. Francolin, Johann von. “Thurnier Buch. Warhafftige Beschreibunge aller kurtzweil und Ritterspil.” Frankfurt am Main, 1566. 4 unnumbered leaves, LXXXI (recto: LXXX) numbered leaves. With a large woodcut printer’s mark at the end, 40 partly colored text woodcuts, a double-page partly colored board-cut, and 4 heraldic woodcuts on plates. VD16 F 2208.

Both works together in a historic leather binding over five gatherings, with two gilded heraldic medallions on the covers. FOLIO 33 x 21 cm
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Georg Rüxner’s famous Tournament Book is among the most important sources on the history of late medieval knighthood. It describes 36 major tournaments of the Holy Roman Empire, names numerous participating noble families and documents their crests, ranks, and knightly traditions. The splendid woodcuts by Jost Amman and Hans Bocksberger convey a fascinating image of courtly festival culture, historic armor, and the regal attire of the nobility.

The bound volume Johann von Francolin’s Tournament Book complements the work with the lively portrayal of courtly knightly games, ceremonial processions, and elaborate tournament events. The impressive illustrations show richly dressed knights and princes, mounted fighters, courtly societies, and heraldic representations. Notably, the rare partial coloring gives selected scenes and crests exceptional vividness.

Beyond their historical value, the two tournament books are among the finest illustrated testimonies of the German Renaissance. The woodcuts are masterpieces of southern German book illustration and at the same time an inexhaustible treasure trove for collectors and enthusiasts of heraldry, costume history, knightly culture, and early printmaking.
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Repaired spine using the original leather by a professional conservator. Inner pages show sometimes age-appropriate signs of use; the impressive, partly old-colored woodcuts are well preserved. Overall, an unusually attractive Renaissance compendium, whose rare partial coloring, splendid knightly depictions, and characterful historic binding make it a particularly desirable collectible.