|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Press Room |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
June 7, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Rodger Pille, piller@cincymuseum.org, (513) 287-7054 Museum Center to Auction "The History of the Book" Collection CINCINNATI, OHIO - On June 27 and 28, Christie's New York will sell an extraordinary single-owner collection: "The History of the Book: The Cornelius J. Hauck Collection," acquired by and in the care of the Cincinnati Historical Society—now Cincinnati Museum Center—since 1966. Formed between 1945 and 1965, this unique ensemble features over 700 lots and documents the history of the book around the world. The sale offers remarkable examples of the book in all forms including Babylonian cuneiform tablets, Greek papyri fragments, Persian and Asian manuscripts, European medieval manuscripts, Hebrew manuscripts, fine bindings of all periods, and an interesting group of book-related curiosities. Representatives from Christie's estimate the sale of the collection to realize in excess of $4,500,000. "This institution continually seeks ways to further serve our community, and thus we focus our collections to support our mission," said Douglass W. McDonald, president and CEO of Museum Center. "The 'History of the Book' Collection has been an extraordinary part of Museum Center's collections since 1966, but there has been nominal exhibition of and research on the collection while here. It makes sense to offer these magnificent pieces to better-suited institutions and collectors." McDonald said that proceeds from this sale would be used for direct care of the center's history collections and for future acquisitions that relate to its mission and exhibitions. "Since 1966, Cincinnati Museum Center has been a faithful steward of the Cornelius J. Hauck 'History of the Book' Collection," said Cornelius W. Hauck, son of Cornelius J. Hauck. "The family understands and supports Museum Center's decision to deaccession the collection and is pleased with the caliber of the auction house chosen to handle the sale. We firmly believe that my father would also support the sale since the auction proceeds will insure the future of his beloved Cincinnati Historical Society Library, his extensive horticultural collection as well as its other collections." The breathtaking top lot of the sale is the Album Amicorum—Das Grosse Stammbuch of Philip Hainhofer, an illuminated manuscript on vellum and paper in German, Italian, Latin and French, 1596-1633 (estimate: $600,000-800,000). This renowned 'Book of Friendship' is a monument to the princes of Europe and court art. Brought together by Philipp Hainhofer (1578-1647), an internationally influential figure who was employed by the European princes as an art advisor and political agent, the Grosse Stammbuch contains signatures and coats of arms of princely persons, paintings and drawings and an ensemble of lavishly illustrated 'natural history' pages which are strikingly meticulous, delicate and elegant. Some of the illustrious names featured in the album are Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612); Elizabeth Stuart, princess royal of England (1596-1662); Cosimo II de' Medici (1590-1621); Cardinal Alessandro Orsini; Aloysio Gonzaga, Principe de Castiglione; and Charles de Valois, Duke of Angoulême (1573-1650). Among the more exotic highlights of the sale is an exquisite Chinese celadon jade book, dating from the late 18th/early 19th century and consisting of eight incised and gilded rectangular plaques depicting a total of 16 Luohan in various pursuits, each accompanied by an inscription illuminating their character (estimate: $40,000-60,000). Of great rarity is Ulrich Richental's first edition of Chronik des Konstanzer Konzils, Augsburg, 1483 (estimate: $80,000-120,000), the only illustrated contemporary account of the Council of Constance, comprising 44 pictorial woodcuts, all finely colored by a South-German hand. Among the Hebrew works in the collection is a beautiful Dutch Haggadah, Seder Haggadah shel Pesach, written and illuminated by Aaron Wolf ben Benjamin Zeev Schreiber Herlinger of Gewitsch, 5485 [1725 CE] (estimate: $100,000-150,000). The work contains 47 small miniatures and 12 large ones, is signed by the author and comes in the original Viennese binding. The sale also features the only known round bookbinding of the Renaissance: a superb binding executed around 1590 by Caspar Meuser of Dresden for Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg (estimate: $30,000-40,000). Other featured lots are an Egyptian wood stela for Neskhons, Ptolemaic Period, 304-30 BCE, painted in white, red, green, blue and black on a cream ground (estimate: $5,000-7,000); a first edition of De veris ac salutaribus animi gaudiis dialogues by Matthaeus Bossus, Abbot of the Augustinian Canons at Fiesole, with a dedicatory letter to Lorenzo de' Medici in an important Italian Renaissance plaquette binding (estimate: $40,000-60,000); and an important, early 19th century odorless varnished binding—a Vernis Martin binding—containing three works by Charles-Guillaume Etienne (estimate: $15,000-20,000). The Hauck family is one of the more prominent names in Cincinnati's history. Cornelius J. Hauck's grandfather John Hauck (1829-1896) founded the popular Dayton Street Brewery, known for its "Golden Eagle" brand. John's son Louis Hauck (1866-1942) became president of the company in 1893 and oversaw great expansion in the John Hauck Beer Bottling Company. Louis at one time also owned the Cincinnati Zoo, was president of the German National Bank and president of the Cincinnati Reds in 1886. Cornelius J. Hauck (1893-1967) joined the company in 1917. With the onset of prohibition, the firm changed to an investment company. In 1924, Cornelius married Harriet Wesche and they began collecting books on trees, plants and shrubs. From 1945 through 1965, they expanded their interest in books to all aspects of printing, binding and written communication. In 1966, Cornelius gave his book collections to the Cincinnati Historical Society. He served on the board of the historical society from the 1940s until his death in 1967. He chaired the Building Committee that resulted in the Historical Society moving from rooms at the University of Cincinnati to its own space in the Adams Emery Wing of the Cincinnati Art Museum in 1964. Some members of the Hauck family continue to live in the area. Cornelius W. Hauck (son of Cornelius J. Hauck and a local investment professional for nearly 40 years) and his wife Janet have been members of Museum Center and its predecessor organizations for over 20 years. Their son John W. Hauck (a Museum Center trustee emeritus and local attorney) and his wife Sandra still reside in the area. Another son, Thomas (with wife Kimberly), is director of development at the Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. A daughter, Amy Hauck Hamilton (husband Tim), also lives in the Cincinnati area.
The History of the Book: The Cornelius J. Hauck Collection
Christie's Galleries at Rockefeller Center June 23 through 26 Cincinnati Museum Center gratefully acknowledges operating and capital support from the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the State of Ohio. Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is home to the Cincinnati History Museum, Cinergy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. It is a nationally recognized educational and research resource and one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest. Cincinnati Museum Center serves more than 1.47 million visitors annually, reaching out to almost 200,000 young people through hands-on exhibits and programs. Originally built in 1933 as the Union Terminal train station, the building is a national historic landmark and was renovated and reopened as Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990. For information, call (513) 287-7000 or 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org. # # # |
|