Berlin Picture Book (Libr.Pict.A.83)

Berlin Picture Book
Libr.Pict.A83, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Berlin, Germany
Hagedorn Leng 38.9.3
Wierschin 1 Hils 12
Type	Picture book
Date	ca. 1512
Place of origin	Nuremberg(?)
Language(s)	Early New High German
Author(s)	Unknown
Illustrator(s)	Albrecht Dürer (?)
Material	Paper, with a half-leather cover
Size	65 folia (195 mm × 317 mm)
Format	Double-sided; two illustrations per side, with scattered text
External data	Library catalog entry
Treatise scans	Digital scans (750x1100)

The Berlin Picture Book (Libr. pict. A 83) is a German manuscript thought to have been created in the workshop of Albrecht Dürer as preparation for his fencing manual of 1512 (MS 26-232). The original currently rests in the holdings of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin in Berlin, Germany. This manuscript is just a book of illustrations, not a true fencing manual, and its focus is on accurately depicting the fighters rather than on explicating their techniques. It seems to be connected in some way to the Nuremberg manuscript group, and also incorporates the dagger content from Hans Talhoffer's 1448 manuscript and sword and buckler devices of unknown origin.

Provenance

The known provenance of the Libr. pict. A 83 is:

• 1845-present – Held by the Staatsbibliothek Preußischer Kulturbesitz (purchased Berlin, Asher, 1845)

Contents

1r - 6v	Anonymous short sword devices Images Draft Translation by Jens P. Kleinau Transcription  by Dierk Hagedorn Two guards SwingPiece To the thrust [1r-a] zwo huet schwungstuck zum stich {binding} Outside and inside through the arm thrusted and then standing up [1r-b] Aussen vnd In Wendig durch den Arm gestochen vnd dan auff gestanden To grab with the sword releasing at the follow of the knee the hip A piece against the ox (first) with it thrust through the arm [1v-a] das fassen mit dem schwert losen an der kelen die huff Stuck zum ersten dam[it] gestochen durch den arm free strike two breakings, point and pommel to the neck [1v-b] frayer straÿch Zwen pruch spitz vnd knopf an den hals push hit and tear [2r-a] stossen schlahen vnd reyssen deathstrike (thunderstrike) thrust through for the visor break the left hand at his hilt and with the pommel through winded [2r-b] Donerschlag vnden durch geschossen fur das visir pruch die linck hant an seyn gehultz vnd mitt dem knopf durch gewunden In the hilt break wind over with the blade and tear downwards [2v-a] In das gehultz pruch vber win[d] mitt der kling vnd hinder reit twitching sword over neck [2v-b] Zucken schwert vber hals [3r-a] [No text] [3r-b] [No text] [3v-a] [No text] [3v-b] [No text] [4r-a] [No text] [4r-b] [No text] [4v-a] [No text] [4v-b] [No text] [5r-a] [No text] [5r-b] [No text] [5v-a] [No text] [5v-b] [No text] [6r-a] [No text] [6r-b] [No text] [6v-a] [No text] [6v-b] [No text]
7r - 32v	Long sword illustrations from the Nuremberg tradition
33r - 36r	Illustrations of sword and buckler
36v - 65v	Dagger illustrations from the Nuremberg tradition and Hans Talhoffer

Gallery

Spine

Front Cover

Inside Cover

Ir

Iv

Folio 1r

Folio 1v

Folio 2r

Folio 2v

Folio 3r

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Folio 4v

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Folio 66r

Folio 66v

Inside Cover

Back Cover

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Images	Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin	Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Translation	Jens P. Kleinau	Hans Talhoffer ~ as seen by Jens P. Kleinau
Transcription	Dierk Hagedorn	Index:Berlin Picture Book (Libr.Pict.A.83)