VERY RARE 16TH C. PRINT - RUSSIAN EMBASSY TO THE EMPEROR OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE MAXIMILIAN II IN REGENSBURG, Michael Petterle, Prag ca 1576-1595, Wahrhafftige Contrafactur, der Legation oder gesandten, des Gross Fürsten auss Moscaw...

HÜBSCHMANN, DONAT (ca.1525/30 - 1583). (attributed). - AMMAN, JOST (?). Wahrhafftige Contrafactur, der Legation oder gesandten, des Gross Fürsten auss Moscaw, an die Römische Kayserliche Mayestat: Auch inn was Kleydung und gestalt, ein jeder gen Hof gezogen, da sie der Römischen Kayserlichen Mayestat den Credentz-Brieff und Geschenk uber antwortet haben, Zu Regenspurg auf diesem Reichstag, den achtzehenden Julij, dieses M. D. LXXVI. Jars. - Contrafactur: Der Kirchen Ceremonien, so die Moscowitter bey irem Gottesdienst gebrauchen, wie auff dem jetzigen Reichstag zu Regenspurg ist gesehen worden. Prag, Michael Peterle (Petterle), (ca 1576-1595). [Mit Röm: Kay: May: Freyheit nicht nachzudrucken, weder in kleiner noch grössern Form zu imitirn, oder nach zumachen].

Large hand-coloured woodcut, with title above and nine columns of text underneath, c. 400 x 1480 mm.
Mounted on board and with a painted black frame. About 10 repaired tears, of which one larger, about 5 minor damages, some dampstaing to lower right part, partly spotting and soiling. Framed.

The engraving depicts the Great Embassy that tsar Ivan IV (1530-1584, 'Ivan the Terrible') sent to Maximilian II of the Holy Roman Empire and were met by him at the diet in Regensburg in 1576. The procession of noblemen and clerics in Russian attire is seen bearing gifts (mainly furs), at the right hand end of the plate an orthodox service is held.
Prince Zakhary Sugorsky (second from left) and his retinue on his way to offer his sealed credentials to the Emperor Maximilian. The Russian ambassador’s credentials are being carried by the young man at right.

VERY RARE PRINT. We cannot find any auction records in Rare Book Hub, there are only a few copies in the world, mainly in museums in Russia and Germany. There are later reproductions at museums, amongst others at Victoria and Albert, London, and Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifts, Paris.

The woodcut is attributed to Donat Hübschmann and sometimes also to the the Swiss-German artist Jost Amman (1539-1591).
Donat Hübschmann was born about 1540 in Leipzig, he worked as an engraver and printer and died in Vienna in 1583. He worked for Maximilian II and Rudolph II.
Michael Peterle (1537–1588).

A later copy of this print (a chromolithograph), was made by V. A. Prokhorov in his work "Russian Antiquities", 1872.
There have been later copies (about 1880) of this woodcut for sale at auctions, amongst others in 2019.

Provenance: Karl Gustav Kosk (1881-1957), owner of the printing house 'Yhteiskirjapaino oy' in Helsinki, this woodcut was given to Kosk on his 50th birthday 5 June 1931 (also according to the metal plaque on the back of the board); later inherited in the Kosk family.

The woodcut is mounted on board. About 10 repaired tears, of which one larger, some dampstaing to lower part, some spotting and soiling.