Repurchased, Ordered, Inherited: The Origins of Woodcut Blocks in the Königsberg Printing House of Hans Daubmann and His Heirs

Strategies adopted by the early modern printers vis-à-vis acquisition and use of woodcut blocks depended on various internal external factors. One might assume that former—a printer’s personal ambitions convictions concerning role illustrations in general—were most part dependent latter (i.e., economic, political or legal circumstances). Hans Daubmann, a printer active first Nuremberg 1547–54 then Königsberg 1554–73, is an interesting case fairly consistent approach to illustrations, despite diametrically different conditions which each his printing houses operated. In Nuremberg, he tried—but ultimately failed—to establish professional position, struggling against tough competition censorship, while, Königsberg, easily almost immediately dominated local market with support from Duke Prussia. both places, Daubmann issued many illustrated works invariably minimised associated expenditures. He was exceptionally keen repurchasing woodblocks sources, undoubtedly much cheaper than commissioning new items. Even when chose order matrices, they usually reproduced popular models. This conservative strategy preserved until mid-17th century Daubmann’s heirs followers: Georg Osterberger, Johann Fabricius Lorenz Segebade. They mostly reused these woodblocks, some heavily worn out, only developed inherited stock matrices.