Mezzotint at its Finest

HOHENWART, Franz Jozef Hanibal, Graf von.

[Printed title]: Wegweiser für die Wanderer in der berühmten Adelsberger und Kronprinz Ferdinands-Grotte bey Adelsberg in Krain. [Engraved title]: Ansichten der Adelsberger und Kronprinz Ferdinands…

One engraved title & 19 engraved plates (of which 17 are in magnificent mezzotint). Text: 16 pp.; 1 p.l., 9 pp.; iv, 14 pp. Three parts in one vol. Oblong folio, modern half-cloth & boards. [Part I]: Vienna: J.P. Sollinger, 1830; [Parts II & III]: Laibach (today Ljubljana in Slovenia): I.A. Edlen v. Kleinmayr, 1832-32.

First edition of this beautifully illustrated monograph on the famous karst caves in Slovenia. They were first described and studied by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in the late 17th century. The fine plates, most of which are in splendid mezzotint, have been drawn by Alois Schaffenrath (1794-1836), an engineer working for the Laibach ministry of travel, transport, and navigation.

The Adelsberger Grotte, a cave system 24,120 meters long near Postojna, was created by the Pivka River. In 1819, Archduke Ferdinand visited the caves and, as a result, they became widely known. Today, they are a major tourist attraction.

Hohenwart (1771-1844), was an Austrian government official and natural historian. He furnishes here an exact account of the cave, its origins, and extent.

Fine copy and very rare. Two old stamps on first printed title of “Kupferst. Samml. S. M. FR.W. III” and “Kupferstich-Sammlung der Königl. Museen.”.

Price: $6,000.00

Item ID: 5699