The Dance of Death.

75

this work, and at the same time connects Holbein's namewith it. It is as follows : " Imagines mortis expressae aboptimo pictore Johanne Holbein cum epigrammatibus Geo.^Emylii, excusae Francofurti et Lugduni apud Frellonios,quorum editio plures habet picturas. Vidi etiam cummetris Gallicis et Germanicis si bene tnemini? 10 But Gesnerwrites from imperfect recollection only, and specifies noedition in German. It is most probable that he refers to anearly copy of the cuts on a larger scale with a good deal oftext in German, and printed and perhaps engraved by JobstDenecker, at Augsburg, 1544, small folio.

The forty-one separate impressions of the cuts in thecollection of Mr. Ottley, as well as those in the presentwriter's possession, are printed on one side of the paperonly, another argument that they were not intended to beused in any book ; and although they are extremely clearand distinct, many of them that were afterwards used in thevarious editions of the book are not less brilliant in ap-pearance. It is well known to those who are conversantwith engravings on wood, that the earliest impressions arenot always the best; a great deal depending on the careand skill with which they were taken from the blocks, andnot a little on the quality of the paper. As they were mostlikely engraved at Basle by an excellent artist, of whommore will be said hereafter, and at the instance of theLyons booksellers or publishers, it is very probable that afew impressions would be taken off with German titles onlyfor the use of the people of Basle, or other persons usingthe German language. Proofs might also be wanted for theaccommodation of amateurs or other curious persons, andtherefore it would be only necessary to print the names ortitles of the subjects. This conjecture derives additionalsupport from the well-known literary intercourse betweenthe cities of Lyons and Basle, and from their small distancefrom each other. On the whole, therefore, the Lyonsedition of 1538 may be safely regarded as the earliest, untilsome other shall make its appearance with a well ascer-tained prior date, either in German or any other language.

In the edition of 1538 there is a dedication not in anyof the others, and of very considerable importance. It is a10 L ; b. ult. p. 86.