Poland - View of Krakow; Daniel Meissner - Damnum unis, alterius commodum - 1621-1650

”DAMNUM UNIUS, ALTERIUS COMMODUM”

The misfortune of one may bring benefits to another. This maxim was illustrated by the story of a trapped hare, which thus became easy prey for a fox.

This hand-coloured print originates from Meissner’s Sciographia Cosmica, published in Nuremberg by Paulus Fürst in 1638.

Daniel Meissner was a German writer and artist known for his work in the 17th century. Sciographia Cosmica is a series of engravings depicting cities, landscapes, and cultural scenes. Born in 1585 in Komotau, Bohemia, Meissner later settled in Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt, after completing his education. His most important work was Thesaurus Philo-Politicus, a collection of city views, alongside the well-known works of Merian, Braun & Hogenberg, and Münster. It was first published in 1623 by Eberhard Kieser (Frankfurt, 1583-1631) under the title Thesaurus Philo-Politicus. The second edition followed between 1624 and 1631 with 416 views, and finally, the third edition, Sciographia Cosmica, was published between 1638 and 1643 by Paulus Fürst (Nuremberg, 1608-1666) with around 830 views.
The engravings of cities, villages, monasteries, and castles depict places as they appeared before the Thirty Years' War, making them valuable historical sources.

Dimensions:
19 cm x 15 cm

Medium:
Engraving

Date:
1638

Artist or Maker:
Daniel Meissner

Publisher:
Paulus Fürst

Origin:
Nuremberg

Condition Report
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

This item is professionally protected by handmade packing.
The Certificate of Authenticity is included.