CHODOWIECKI, DANIEL. BASEDOW, JOHANNES BERNHARD. Kupfertafeln zum Elementarbuche für die Jugend, ihre Eltern und Freunde in gesitteten Ständen. Co-bound in two volumes: volume I published Altona and Bremen 1770, volume II published Berlin and Dessau 1774. Contains 100 copperplate engravings, mostly by D. Chodowiecki . 15 pp. of text (introduction, index of engravings). Half leather binding of the period (rubbing, slight loss of corners, front joint loose); format: 4°.
The publication was created under the direction of Daniel Chodowiecki, who, as a draftsman and engraver, co-authored most of the engravings. This is an extremely interesting work. It depicts the world of the 18th century in such a vivid and detailed way that at times one has the impression of interacting with a photograph. We see a whole range of different representations: from natural history, technology, military and genre scenes to cartography (including a map of Europe with the pre-partition Republic marked). Thus, this is not only a collection of illustrations for a children's primer, but also an extremely valuable, realistic iconographic source. - Slight yellowing and soiling, some copperplates with tears (after conservation), one copperplate with trimmed margins, title page and pages of text to volume two missing.
