Ein gute Ordnung
Subtitle: vnd kurtze Vnterrict, der furnemsten Grunde : aus denen die Jungen, zierlichs schreybens begirlich mit besonderer Kunst vnd behendigkeyt Vnterricht vnd geübt mögẽ werden
By: durch Johann Newdorffer Burger vnd Rechenmaister zu Nurmberg ; im Jar ... M.D.XXXVIII
Publisher: [s.n.]
Published: 1543
Place of publication: Nuremberg
Language: ger
Number of pages: 119
Subjects: Copybooks; Early works to 1800; Penmanship; Printing; Specimens
Other titles: Gute Ordnung, und kurtze unterricht, der furnemsten Grunde
Notes: Engraved throughout, except for eight leaves of manuscript samples; title leaf included in foliation.

A number of leaves are variously dated, from 1538 to 1543.

This book represents the earliest use of intaglio techniques in a writing book. Because Neudörffer transferred much of his work onto the plates in normal orientation, many of the plates bear "reversed" impressions. Thus, his volumes were intended both as copy-books and as tools for tracing (from the versos of leaves).

As in the copies at the Österreiches Museum in Vienna and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Harvard's copy contains 49 leaves with "reversed" impressions from the plates themselves, 49 leaves with counterproofs of these, and 13 leaves with "correct" impressions from new plates etched in reverse (for a total of 62 separate samples).

As in the copies in Vienna and Nuremberg, as well as those at the Metropolitan Museum and the Newberry, Harvard's copy contains eight leaves of manuscript samples at end. Doede attributes these to Neudörffer, suggesting that they were included at the time of issue.

See Bonacini, C. Arte scrittorie, 1273 and 1279.

Doede, W. Deutsche schreibmeisterbücher, 3.

Doede, W., "Johann Neudörffers Hauptwerk 'Ein gute Ordnung' von 1538," Philobilon 1 (1957), pp. 20-29.

Becker, D.P. Practice of letters, 49.

Lengthy presentation inscription on front pastedown dated 1556 from the author to Hieronymus Köler, a former student of Neudörffer's.

Small piece of title leaf cut out and replaced with a stub inscribed: Henricus Hirrtwiglus Haynensis 1605.

Typescript bibliographical notes removed to Curatorial File.

Bound in contemporary panel-stamped pigskin over wooden boards; brass corner bosses and catches (clasps missing); blind tooled cover title: Kunstbuch; manuscript shelf mark[?] "78" on fore-edge (similar to the Newberry binding).