Franz Michael Regenfuss
Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere, 1758
Found at
Sothebys,
London
The Library of Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven Part I, Lot 179
6. May - 18. May 2022
The Library of Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven Part I, Lot 179
6. May - 18. May 2022
Estimate: 10.000 - 15.000 GBP
Price realised: 22.680 GBP
Price realised: 22.680 GBP
Description
Franz Michael Regenfuss
Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere [Sammlung von Muscheln, Schnecken und andern Schaaltieren]. Copenhagen, 1758
Folio (605 x 445mm.), half-title, engraved titles in German and French, text in German and French, fine engraved headpiece printed in sanguine, 12 hand-coloured engraved plates, nineteenth-century half morocco gilt, without the letterpress title, privilege and portrait found in some copies, some spotting
In 1748 Regenfuss published a small circular in which he invited shell collectors to subscribe to his conchological work. That same year he obtained from Emperor Francis I the privilege of publishing the book. However, due to several circumstances, not least that Regenfuss was unhappy with the text provided by Friedrich Christian Lesser, publication ceased. Through the mediation of the Danish Count Adam Gottlob von Moltke (Conseiller prive et grand Marechal de la Cour) and Frederic V. King of Denmark and Norway, Regenfuss came to Copenhagen in 1754. Moltke as well as the King were great admirers of natural history objects and Moltke possessed a famous cabinet of shells. Hence, Regenfuss was appointed engraver to the King, a position he held until his death in 1780. It was here in Copenhagen that Regenfuss continued and finally published his work. Consequently, Regenfuss went to some length to conceal the Nuremberg origin of his illustrations, to the degree that he obliterated the impri
Apart from the 12 plates, copies vary considerably in their make-up.
LITERATURE:
Nissen BBI 3338
PROVENANCE:
Sir Edward Henry Scott, 5th Bart (1842-1883), of Sundridge Park, Bromley Kent, bookplate
Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere [Sammlung von Muscheln, Schnecken und andern Schaaltieren]. Copenhagen, 1758
Folio (605 x 445mm.), half-title, engraved titles in German and French, text in German and French, fine engraved headpiece printed in sanguine, 12 hand-coloured engraved plates, nineteenth-century half morocco gilt, without the letterpress title, privilege and portrait found in some copies, some spotting
In 1748 Regenfuss published a small circular in which he invited shell collectors to subscribe to his conchological work. That same year he obtained from Emperor Francis I the privilege of publishing the book. However, due to several circumstances, not least that Regenfuss was unhappy with the text provided by Friedrich Christian Lesser, publication ceased. Through the mediation of the Danish Count Adam Gottlob von Moltke (Conseiller prive et grand Marechal de la Cour) and Frederic V. King of Denmark and Norway, Regenfuss came to Copenhagen in 1754. Moltke as well as the King were great admirers of natural history objects and Moltke possessed a famous cabinet of shells. Hence, Regenfuss was appointed engraver to the King, a position he held until his death in 1780. It was here in Copenhagen that Regenfuss continued and finally published his work. Consequently, Regenfuss went to some length to conceal the Nuremberg origin of his illustrations, to the degree that he obliterated the impri
Apart from the 12 plates, copies vary considerably in their make-up.
LITERATURE:
Nissen BBI 3338
PROVENANCE:
Sir Edward Henry Scott, 5th Bart (1842-1883), of Sundridge Park, Bromley Kent, bookplate
A top price for Franz Michael Regenfuss
The work Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere, 1758 by Franz Michael Regenfuss was sold in the The Library of Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven Part I auction at Sothebys in London in May last year. The »bidding war« ended at GBP 22,680.00 (€ 26,680.86), 51% above the upper estimate. This high result makes Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere, 1758 the most expensive artwork by Franz Michael Regenfuss that we have observed at auctions so far.
Ein Spitzenpreis für Franz Michael Regenfuss
Die Arbeit Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere, 1758 von Franz Michael Regenfuss wurde im Mai letzten Jahres in der Auktion The Library of Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven Part I bei Sothebys in London versteigert. Das »Bietergefecht« endete beim Preis von GBP 22.680,00 (€ 26.680,86) und damit 51% über dem oberen Schätzpreis. Dieses hohe Ergebnis macht Auserlesne Schnecken, Muscheln und andere Schaalthiere, 1758 zu dem teuersten Kunstwerk von Franz Michael Regenfuss, das wir bisher bei Auktionen beobachtet haben.
Franz Michael Regenfuss - Auction history
Other artists in this auction
![Henry Andrews - The botanist\'s repository, London, 1797 [-1812], 10 volumes, green armorial morocco gilt](/images/henry-andrews_the-botanists-repository-london-1797-1812-10-volumes-green-armorial-morocco-gilt_AID711766_320x320.jpg)
![Eleazar Albin - A natural history of birds [and] A natural history of English insects, 1738-1749, 4 volumes, contemporary calf](/images/eleazar-albin_a-natural-history-of-birds-and-a-natural-history-of-english-insects-1738-1749-4-volumes-contemporary-calf_AID711744_320x320.jpg)
![Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot - Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux de l\'Amerique Septentrionale, Paris, 1807 [-1808], 2 volumes](/images/louis-jean-pierre-vieillot_histoire-naturelle-des-oiseaux-de-lamerique-septentrionale-paris-1807-1808-2-volumes_AID711708_320x320.jpg)
![Johann Conrad Susemihl - Teutsche Ornithologie, [Darmstadt, 1837-1841], 2 volumes](/images/johann-conrad-susemihl_teutsche-ornithologie-darmstadt-1837-1841-2-volumes_AID711695_320x320.jpg)
![Thomas Rowlandson - Loyal Volunteers of London & Environs... [London, 1799]](/images/thomas-rowlandson_loyal-volunteers-of-london-environs-london-1799_AID711663_320x320.jpg)
![Pierre-Joseph Redouté - An album of botanical engravings, [no date]](/images/pierre-joseph-redoute_an-album-of-botanical-engravings-no-date_AID711647_320x320.jpg)
