Low Countries / Book History, Education & Printing

KIRCHER, Athanasius. Ars magna sciendi, in XII libros digesta, qua nova & universali methodo ... [vol. 2 half-title:] Artis magnae seu combinatoriae sciendi, ... [titles on the frontispieces:] Ars magna sciendi sive combinatoria [vol. 1] Artis magnae combinatoriae [vol. 2].
Amsterdam, Johannes Janssonius van Waesberge and the widow of Elizaeus Weyerstraten, 1669. 2 volumes bound as 1. Royal folio (46 x 30 x 5.5 cm). With 2 richly engraved allegorical frontispieces, an engraved plate with a full-page portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, an engraved plate showing all knowledge of the universe organised as a tree, 2 engraved volvelles (with 4 rotating dials), 20 further engravings on integral leaves and a couple dozen woodcut figures in the text. Contemporary richly gold-tooled red goatskin morocco decorated a petit fers, gold-tooled turn-ins, board edges and raised bands, giving a total of more than 1500 impressions of about 14 stamps and 3 rolls, edges gilt over red and blue squiggles. Janssonius van Waesberge, who published Kircher's books in Amsterdam from 1664/65 to 1682, arranged to have copies of several luxuriously bound for Kircher to present to leading figures and this is almost certainly one of them, presented to Giovanni Paolo Oliva, Superior General of the Jesuit Society. [18], 482, [10] pp. (including 2 integral frontispieces), plus 4 inserted tables & 2 plates. Full description

LUISCIUS, A.G. Het algemeen historisch, geographisch en genealogisch woordenboek, vervattende de gehele wereldlyke geschiedenis...
The Hague, Pieter Husson, Thomas Johnson, Johannes van Duren, Charles le Vier; Delft, Reinier Boitett, 1724-1737. 8 volumes. Large folio (41.5 x 27.5 cm). Vol. 1 with an impressive engraved frontispiece by Bernard Picart and an engraved armorial dedication to Isack van Hoornbeek. Each volume except the first has an engraving at the head of the first page depicting a library with visitors in it. Contemporary and uniform mottled half calf, marbled sides, gold-tooled spine with red label. [14], 574; 440, 192; 428, 146; 234, 190; 600; 578; 556; 572 pp. Full description

METEREN, Emanuel van. Nederlantsche historien ofte geschiedenissen inhoudende den gantzen staet, handel, soo va[n] oorlogen als vrede-handels in onsen tyden begin ende eynde ... Mede vervattende eenige haerder gebueren handelinge. ... oversien verbetert ende vermeerdert tot dese[n] tege[n]wordigen wtgank des jaers anno 1611.
Including (vol. 2): Belgische ofte Nederlantsche oorlogen ende gheschiedenissen beginnende van t'jaer 1595 tot 1611, ... oversie[n] verbetert e[n]de vermeerdert ...
[Copy imprint to vol. 2:] "Schotland buyten Danswyck" [= Amsterdam], "Hermes van Loven" [= Nicolaes III Biestkens?] for the author, 1611 [-1612]. 2 volumes. 4to. With 2 engraved title-pages, both coloured and highlighted in gold by an early hand. Further with a full-page engraved portrait of Van Meteren, and 21 smaller woodcut portraits in the text attributed to Christoffel van Sichem. Mottled, gold-tooled calf (ca. 1665), gold-tooled spines, 18th-century(?) gold-tooling on the boards. [6], 568, [20]; [2], 118, [4], 413, [10] ll. Full description

[MINIATURE BOOKS - DUTCH]. Bibliotheek in miniatuur.
Comprising:
(1) De aardrijkskunde.
(2) De gewijde geschiedenis.
(3) Vaderlandsche geschiedenis.
(4) Natuurlijke geschiedenis der viervoetige dieren.
(5) De natuurlijke geschiedenis der vogelen.
(6) Natuurlijke geschiedenis der insekten, kruipende dieren en visschen.
(7) De kruidkunde.
(8) Zedelijke verhalen.
(9) Arabische vertellingen.
(10) De mythologie.
Amsterdam, M. Westerman, 1823. 10 volumes. Ca 7.7 x 6.5 cm. With 31 engraved plates and 5 engraved maps, including a folding world map. In the original pink and green cardboard case with glass lid, green printed paper wrappers, with cream paper dust jackets with the titles in manuscript on the front. Full description

OTTO VON PASSAU. Boec des gulden throe[n]s of der xxiiij. ouden en[de] hoemen elke[n] vinden mach en[de] va[n] hoerre leringhen die si leren om te comen totten ewighen leven.
(colophon: Haarlem, [Jacob Bellaert], 25 October 1484). Folio (29 x 21.5 cm). With large woodcut printer's device (142 x 82 mm) on verso of last leaf (with the arms of the city of Haarlem above an eagle holding a larger blank shield, here filled in by a contemporary owner); 4 woodcut illustrations and 20 repeats, representing the 24 elders, each showing one of the male elders, standing, teaching a female novice kneeling before him. Further with spaces left for initials, all filled in with uncials by hand, about 25 with penwork decoration in 1 or 2 additional colours: 1 blue 6-line initial with decorations in red and violate extending far into the margin, about 24 red 3 to 9-line (mostly 7-line) initials with lavendar penwork (1 with 2 green dots), some extending into the margin, and more than 70 2-line red initials without penwork decoration; a few spaces left for ¶-marks, also filled in in red; capitals rubricated throughout. Set entirely in Baellart's textura (99 or 100 mm/20 lines or about 14.5 point). Lacking leaf 137 (the second to last text leaf) and the final blank. Modern sheepskin. [1 blank, 3], "136" [= 135 (of 136)], [1] ll. Full description

ROTTIER, Jacques. Catalogue d'une très-belle collection de tableaux, dessins encadrés, médailles, bronzes, ivoires, marbres et objets d'art, délaissés par M. Jacques Rottier, avocat et amateur distingué a Gand.
Ghent, D.J. Vanderhaeghen, 1834. With folding engraved plate as frontispiece.
With:
(2) VAN ROTTERDAM. Catalogue d'une précieuse collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande, Hollandaise et Italienne délaissés par Mr. Van Rotterdam.
Ghent, widow of L. De Busscher-Braeckman, 1835.
(3) BALLIN, H. Catalogue d'une belle collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande et Hollandaise délaissés par feu le notaire H. Ballin à Gand.
Antwerp, H.P. Vanderhey, 1838. With an engraved plate loosely inserted.
(4) MAES, Marie. Catalogue d'une belle collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande et Hollandaise délaissés par feu Marie Maes.
Ghent, F.E. Gyselynck, 1837.
(5) VRANCKEN, Petrus Jacobus Franciscus. Catalogue d'une précieuse collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande, Hollandaise et Française délaissés par Mr. P.J.F. Vrancken à Lokeren.
Antwerp, H.P. Vander Hey, 1838. With 3 illustrations on 2 engraved plates.
(6) SCHAMP D'AVESCHOOT, Jean. Catalogue des tableaux des écoles Flamande, Hollandaise, Italienne, Française et Espagnole, qui composent la magnifique galerie délaissée par M. Schamp d'Aveschoot.
Ghent, Librairie Générale de H. Hoste, 1840. 6 catalogues in 1 volume. 8vo. Interleaved. Contemporary half tanned sheepskin. [2], 30; [2], III, 68; 32; 36; VI, [2], 48; XX, 109 pp. Full description

STRAAT, Pieter. D'Oranjeboom verheerlykt [above:] Geslachtboom van de huizen van Oranje en van Nassau, ...
(Colophon: Amsterdam, Hendrik de Leth), [1747]. 4to. With an engraved armorial title-page by Hendrik de Leth, with the subtitle in a banderol at the head, a crowned tree representing the family tree of the houses of Orange and Nassau (with 27 family coats of arms), a wreath with an orange tree, the 7 arms of the Dutch provinces and military attributes, the whole beautifully hand-coloured as published. Contemporary gold-tooled calf, by the Van Damme bindery in Amsterdam, a rosette and fillets in each of the spine compartments, gold-tooled board edges, gilt edges, marbled endpapers. Engraved title-page plus [17], [1 blank] pp. Full description

VEUR, Adriaan Teunisz. van. Zeemans schatkamer, daar in de stuurmans-konst niet alleen als voor deezen beschreeven; maar ook verscheide zaken verbetert en bygevoegt zyn ...
Amsterdam, Johannes II van Keulen, 1755.
With:
(2) De tafelen sinuum, tangentium, en secantium ...
Amsterdam, Isaac Swigters, [ca. 1752].
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With a woodcut vignette on the title-page, numerous woodcut mathematical figures, tables, decorated initials, and tail-pieces. Contemporary vellum, sewn on 4 supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title and author on the spine, red edges. [4], 326, [16]; [256] pp. Full description

WALBEEK, Willem and Frans WALBEEK. [Three calligraphic prize books by Willem and Frans Walbeek].
Warmond (near Leiden), the Netherlands, 1752-1756.
Comprising:
(1) WALBEEK, Willem. Prijs boek. Inhoudende verscheyde geschriften.
Warmond, 1752.
(2) WALBEEK, Willem. Prijs-boek. Inhoudende eenige schriften.
Warmond, 1753.
(3) WALBEEK, Frans. Prijs boek.
Warmond, 1756.
Three oblong albums (ca. 35 x 44 cm). With the same hand drawn illustration of 2 putti holding a laurel wreath on the title-pages of ads 2 and 3, and an ink drawing of a compass as part of a calligraphic exercise also in ads 2 and 3. Contemporary marbled paper wrappers. [12]; [1 blank], [13]; [10] ll. Full description

[WATERMARK - ELEPHANT]. [A blank half-sheet of paper of the size called "Elephant"].
[France?, used in the Netherlands?], [ca. 1650]. Elephant folio leaf (35 x 52 cm). With a large (87 x 162 mm) elephant watermark. Full description