[MARTIN, David and Willem SEWEL (translator)].
Historie des ouden en nieuwen testaments, verrykt met meer dan vierhonderd printverbeeldingen in kooper gesneeden.
Amsterdam, Pieter Mortier, 1700. 2 parts in 3 volumes. Folio. With an engraved title page for both parts (vols. 1 and 3), a large engraved vignette on each of the 3 typographical title pages, 3 engraved headpieces (1 in vol. 1 and 2 in vol. 3), 28 engraved tailpieces is vol. 3, 2 identical engraved initials (one in vol. 1, the other in vol. 3), a total of 210 full-page engraved plates containing 2 illustrations each (64 in vol. 1; 72 in vol. 2; 74 in vol. 3), and 5 double-page engraved maps in volume 3. Contemporary gold-tooled half calf,with a green and a blue label lettered in gold on each spine, sprinkled paper sides. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [14], 128; [1], [1 blank], 129-282 [= 154 pp.], [8]; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [22], 154, [1 blank], [2], [2 blank], [2], [2 blank], [2], [1 blank], 155-163 [= 9 pp.], [1 blank], [11], [1 blank] pp.
€ 9,500
First edition of the beautiful "large bible of Mortier". It actually is a picture bible, with beautiful full-page engraved plates, showing biblical scenes described on the facing pages. On the title vignette a woman is depicted, symbolizing faith, holding book scrolls and above her head the symbol of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. Left of the woman the symbols of hope and love are present, an anchor and a vase with a flame above. Two illustrations, above and beyond, are engraved on the full-page plates. All illustrations are captioned in French and Dutch, since they were also meant for a French edition of the same bible, published at the same time. Mortier dedicated his bible to Antony Heinsius, Grand Pensionary of Holland and West-Friesland. The privilege, given to Mortier for his bible, is dated April 1, 1700 for the States of Holland and West-Friesland, and May 22, 1700 for the States General. While the first volume was already published in February 1700, one can find the privilege only in the second volume. This was due to the delay, caused by the denial of Mortier's first request, concerning a privilige for all future picture bibles to be published by him. The foreword and the text for the plates was written by David Martin, and translated into Dutch by Willem Séwel. Mortier writes, in his own foreword to the reader, that he paid much attention to finding well qualified artists to engrave the plates, and that he also had a new letter made, especially for this bible edition. Two of the three leading contemporary illustrators worked on the engravings for the present bible, Jan Luyken and Bernard Picart. Jan Luyken was the author of the vignettes in the text, and of 28 full-page plates. Luyken also added to the engraved frontispiece. He is the only artist who both drew the plates and engraved them. His exemplary drawings are all original. In contrary to Luyken, Picart had many students working for him. Picart's drawings were usually after great painters, but he was an excellent artist and engraver of vignettes. Both artist's were an important influence on art in the 18th century. In 1799 the remaining stock of the bible was bought by five Amsterdam bookdealers: H. Gartman, W. Vermandel & Zoon; J.W. Smit, J.B. Elwe and W. Holtrop. They bound and sold the bible in three volumes.
With a black owner's stamp (with the initials M.G.V.) on several pages in each volume. The bindings are very slightly rubbed, the corners of the boards and ends of the spine are slightly bumped, the front hinge of volume 1 is slightly weakened, the edges of the leaves are slightly frayed, with a tear in the botoom margin of leaf O2 and the top margin of leaf X2 in volume 3. Further with some occaisonal slight water staining. Otherwise in very good condition. Poortman II, p. 98-105; STCN 850281059 (25 copies, incl. 9 incomplete); Van Eeghen/Van der Kellen 351; cf. Cohen 490 (French ed.); not in Darlow & Moule.
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