Uppkomsten af Bockbiret. (The Origin of Bock Beer). Stockholm, Munich, ca. 1880. Oblong-4to. With ten (5 monogr.) original watercolour plates, including the title page, five signed by the painter. Each watercolour includes a handwritten text by the painter. Contemp. red full morocco, gilt, all edges gilt, internally decorated edging, marbled endpapers, raised bands in blind to spine, gilt lettering in compartment 2. (signed: Gustaf Hedberg, Stockholm). A fine copy. The style, known now as bock, was a dark, malty, lightly hopped ale first brewed in the 14th century by German brewers in the Hanseatic town of Einbeck. The style from Einbeck was later adopted by Munich brewers in the 17th century and adapted to the new lager brewing style. With an original sales receipt from A,-B. SVENSK-FRANSKA KONSTGALLERIET in Stockholm to 'Herr Jagmastare (academic title) Hultmark' in October 1932 for 330 Swedish kr. Sold in 2015, presumably after the death of the son of Mr. Hultmark - Mr. Bengt Hultmark, a well-known Swedish architect. Colour plates in order: 1. Title page "The origin of Bockbier." 2. "Early in the morning on the first of May, the Brandenburger (horse breed from Germany) trotted into the palace courtyard." 3. "Pay attention, cup-bearer - so the Brunswicker (person from Braunschweig in Germany) don't throw you off the saddle!" 4. "The Duke with his Knight listens to the cup-bearer." 5. "The page tasting the Braunschweiger drink..." 6. "This saw a servant from the lobby of the Duke's dining hall." (a drunken body is discovered) 7. "My goodness Sir Knight, has the beer made you fall in the sand?" 8. "Then the Knight departed unseen and went to the courtyard to get some fresh air." 9. "The cup-bearer received his barrel of Tokayer from the Knight, and the Duke received exclusive privileges from the first of May, during 'Corpus Christi' to sell his Bock Beer." 10. "But his name was already dead by the summer."