[Germany?, ca. 1780-1810]. Single leaf (34.8 x 42.5 cm), dyed red and printed in gilt. Printed surface 29.5 x 35.0 cm.

A finely printed and well-preserved sheet of embossed brocade paper, known in German as Brokatpapier, or Goldfirnischdruck (after the printing method). A special type of Buntpapier (German), or papier dominoté (French), it was probably meant as endpapers for folio-sized books, and shows a pattern of flowers and leaves, and garlands. Reminiscent of the work of the Augsburger printer Johann Carl Munck (1750-1794), known for his prints with floral patterns. The name of his firm, however, is not included and it would be quite late too. The design suggests an 18th- or very early 19th-century date - later, designs became bolder if not more crude. Edges slightly irregular; central vertical fold; a few, small chips (top layer of the paper at the plate edges only), otherwise very good.