Woodcut, 1506, a good impression of the very rare first state (of two), with the date on the tablet, impression of the line block only, with a Letter T watermark, on possibly varnished laid paper

Ex coll. Heneage Finch, Earl of Aylesford (L. 58)

Trimmed just outside the borderline, trimmed within the image (circa 30mm) above, upper right corner and small area at extreme right edge lacking and reinforced with a thin sheet of white tissue, a few repaired tears (the longest measuring circa 80mm), a couple of short tears at edges, a few horizontal and vertical folds (mainly visible verso), some wormholes (mainly at upper part of sheet), occasional touches of pen and ink, recommend viewing before bidding, unframed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

WORKS FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR. MICHAEL BEROLZHEIMER (lots 26 to 64)

Provenance
Hofrat Dr. Michael Berolzheimer, Munich, Obergrainau and New York
Melitta Berolzheimer (widow of the above, formerly Schweisheimer, née Dispeker)
Dr. Waldemar Schweisheimer, Munich and New York (son of the above)
Thence by descent to the present owner


This group of Old Master Prints was originally formed by Dr. Michael Berolzheimer (1866-1942) between circa1900 to 1937 and formed part of an extensive collection of over 600 works. Michael Berolzheimer was a significant collector of Old Master prints and drawings, paintings and sculptures, in keeping with a family tradition. His family name derives from the regions of Franconia and Upper Bavaria. His grandfather, Daniel Berolzheimer, had established a successful pencil factory in 1855, better known as ‘Adler’, which was inherited by his son, Heinrich Berolzheimer (1836-1906), at a young age. The enterprise continued to be successful with its expansion into New York under the name ‘Eagle’. The business was then handed over to two of Heinrich Berolzheimer’s sons in 1888, so that he could focus on civic and charitable duties.

Heinrich Berolzheimer’s son, Miꦏchael, had a keen interest in the arts, which he developed alongside his career as a lawyer. He put together a fine and varied collection of prints with a focus on Northern artists, such as Albrecht Dürer, Martin Schongauer, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn and Hendrick Goltzius, comprising some rare subjects. His father ‘gave financial support to the ‘Künstlerhaus’ gallery in Nuremberg, which opened in 1910, and he continued to support the art gallery by contributing fifty-two Old Master prints. Michael 🍸Berolzheimer carried on the tradition of his father’s civic patronage of the arts, mainly supporting the Upper Bavarian town of Untergrainau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He was also a member of the acquisitions committee at the Alte Pinakothek, the Munich Graphische Sammlung and the Deutsche Orientgesellschaft, which allowed him to pursue his artistic interests further.

In 1903, Michael Berolzheimer married Melitta Dis🌸peker Schweisheimer, a divorcée with three children. His collecting activities increased after the First World War. Parts of the collection were affected after this, suffering from the Gestapo in the 1930s, who confiscated a number of Old Master drawings, forcing their dispersal at auctions. The group of Old Master Prints however remained largely intact. They travelled to America with Michael Berolzheimer and his wife, or through intermediaries, and the family continued to collect art.

ꦑThe Dr. Michael Berolzheimer collection represents a lifetime’s pursuit that has been preserved for over a century and haꦐs been passed down from Michael Berolzheimer to his wife, and then from her son Waldemar Schweisheimer to the present owner.