Athanasius Kircher
China Monumentis, Qua Sacris Qua Profanis, Nec Non Variis Naturae & Artis Spectaculis
Found at
Christies,
London
Travel, Science and Natural History, Lot 178
25. Apr - 25. Apr 2012
Travel, Science and Natural History, Lot 178
25. Apr - 25. Apr 2012
Estimate: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Description
KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602-1680) China monumentis, qua sacris qua profanis, nec non variis naturae & artis spectaculis. Amsterdam: Joannem Janssonium, 1667. 2° (380 x 245mm). Frontispiece, vignette on title, portrait, 2 folding maps, 8 tables, one folding, 15 plates, one folding, and 59 illustrations, all engraved. (Browning and spotting, small marginal repair to 2C3, last leaf detached.) Contemporary vellum backed in cloth (worn). Provenance: Ang. Leodis (ownership inscription).
FIRST EDITION of a richly illustrated account on China published in Latin in 1667, in German in 1668, and in French two years later. The text is based on descriptions by European explorers, many of them Jesuits as Kircher himself, in China, India, and other Asian countries. The engravings were based on explorers' sketches and original images imported from Asia. Honeyman V, 1824; Caillet 5773; Brunet III, 666.
FIRST EDITION of a richly illustrated account on China published in Latin in 1667, in German in 1668, and in French two years later. The text is based on descriptions by European explorers, many of them Jesuits as Kircher himself, in China, India, and other Asian countries. The engravings were based on explorers' sketches and original images imported from Asia. Honeyman V, 1824; Caillet 5773; Brunet III, 666.
Auction result well in line with expectations
In April 2012 Christies in London held the auction Travel, Science and Natural History, which included the work China Monumentis, Qua Sacris Qua Profanis, Nec Non Variis Naturae & Artis Spectaculis by Athanasius Kircher. It changed hands for a price of GBP 1,875.00 (€ 2,299.64) achieving a result in the upper range of the estimate price range of GBP 1,500.00 – 2,000.00. Other works by Athanasius Kircher have already achieved higher auction prices, for example, in April 2013 the work Latium. Id est, nova & parallela Latii tum veteris tum novi description. Amsterdam: apud Johannem Janssonium & the heirs of Elizei Weyerstraet, 1671. 2° (380 x 240mm). Engraved additional title by Romeyn de Hooghe, portrait of the dedicatee Pope Clement X was auctioned for GBP 2,250.00 (€ 2,655.13).
Auktionsergebnis im Rahmen der Erwartungen
Im April 2012 führte Christies in London die Auktion Travel, Science and Natural History durch, in der auch die Arbeit China Monumentis, Qua Sacris Qua Profanis, Nec Non Variis Naturae & Artis Spectaculis von Athanasius Kircher zur Versteigerung kam. Dabei wechselte sie für einen Preis von GBP 1.875,00 (€ 2.299,64) den Besitzer und erzielte damit ein Ergebnis im oberen Bereich der Schätzpreisspanne von GBP 1.500,00 – 2.000,00. Andere Arbeiten von Athanasius Kircher konnten bereits höhere Auktionspreise erzielen, so wurde im April 2013 die Arbeit Latium. Id est, nova & parallela Latii tum veteris tum novi description. Amsterdam: apud Johannem Janssonium & the heirs of Elizei Weyerstraet, 1671. 2° (380 x 240mm). Engraved additional title by Romeyn de Hooghe, portrait of the dedicatee Pope Clement X für GBP 2.250,00 (€ 2.655,13) versteigert.
Athanasius Kircher - Auction history
