PONTANUS, Johannes Isaac.
Rerum et urbis Amstelodamensium historia.
Amsterdam, Jodocus Hondius, 1611. Folio. With an engraved title, 7 engraved maps and plates (5 folding, 2 double-page), and 50 engraved maps and views in the text. Contemporary limp vellum. [8], 292, [6], 38, [3] pp.
€ 9,000
First edition of the first objective description of Amsterdam and its history, with extensive accounts of Dutch East India Company's (VOC) maritime trade, exploration, and navigation. It contains the report of Willem Barentsz' voyages to the Arctic region in search of a North-East passage to Asia (1594-1597), the accounts of the two first Dutch voyages to the East Indies, including the voyage of Cornelis de Houtman (1595-1597), and the account of the Dutch exploration of Greenland (1594-1596). The work is also important as an Americanum as it gives the results of Henry Hudsons first two voyages to the Arctic (1607-1608) for the Muscovy Company of London. These reports are beautifully illustrated by large maps and views, including a famous map of the North Pole region.
Johannes Isaac Pontanus (1571-1639) was a physician and historian, who was a professor at the University of Harderwijk for most of his life. He wrote several important historical works, such as the history of Denmark, of the Duchy of Gelre, and of Amsterdam. His work on Amsterdam far exceeds the limits of the usual town descriptions, elaborately incorporating the history of the voyages of exploration and commerce undertaken by the enterprising citizens of Amsterdam. Pontanus also describes in detail the activities on the Amsterdam stock and commodity markets, which were among the earliest of the world, and at the time the most important. The extent of the citys trading activities by this time is shown by illustrations of scenes from Indonesia and India to the Arctic.
The binding is somewhat stained and soiled, with a restoration at the foot of the spine, and along the fore and foot edge of the back board. The work is lightly browned and foxed throughout, a faint water stain in the margin of the last 11 leaves. Otherwise in good condition. Alden & Landis II, 611/91; V. Gestel-Van het Schip, Maps in books of Russia and Poland 218; JCB II, p. 78; JFB, p. 369; Nijhoff & V. Hattum 252; Sabin 64002; STCN 850336392 (19 copies); Tiele, Bibl. 876.
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