DÜRER, Albrecht (1471-1528). Passio Christi. [The Small Passion.] Nuremberg: Albrecht Dürer [and Hieronymus Holtzel], 1511.
4º (191 x 145mm). Woodcut title vignette and 36 woodcuts with printed text on verso, on paper watermarked with a high crown [M.20]. (Small wormhole in first 22 leaves, the last woodcut with large ink stain and lower margin renewed, the top margin of the title dampstained and strengthened on verso, another marginal repair, marginal soiling throughout.) 18th-century English panelled sheep, the sides with a gilt rule border applied later, blue coated endpapers (rebacked in the 19th century, when blank interleaves were also added). Provenance: Charles Stoakes (title inscription) -- 'J. West 1729' (signature) -- William Monson (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. A COMPLETE SET OF DÜRER'S MOST EXTENSIVE AND MOST UNIFIED SERIES. The Small Passion was designed and cut in a relatively short time, probably in the two years preceding its publication in 1511 -- a milestone year when Dürer also issued the Large Passion, and the Life of the Virgin. To various scenes from the Life of Christ and the Passion, Dürer added two images of the Fall of Man and the Expulsion from Paradise at the beginning, and of the Pentecost and the Last Judgement at the end, thereby setting the Passion at the center of a larger, all-encompassing narrative of the Fall and Redemption of mankind. Two images, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem and Christ Driving the Money-changers from the Temple, are not included in any of Dürer's other Passion series. Adams D-1058; Bartsch 16-52; Fairfax Murray, German 144; Meder 125-161; VD16 S4588.
