Germany, ca. 1750. Single leaf of laid paper (26.4 x 40.1 cm). Printed in gilt, embossed in floral patterns with leaves, twigs, grapes and berries, and coloured in shades of green, orange, and purple.

A very finely printed and well-preserved sheet of embossed brocade paper, known in German as Brokatpapier, or Goldfirnishdruck (after the printing method). A special type of Buntpapier (German), or papier dominoté (French), it was probably meant as endpapers for folio-sized books. Possibly 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 - it may be a proof print. The subtle design suggests a mid-18th-Century design. Later designs became bolder if not more crude. Edges slightly irregular, the left edge with a small, slightly tilted, plain edge; central vertical fold; a few, tiny chips, otherwise very good.