The first complete history of Gelderland in Dutch, with a large folding map of the whole region, and twenty maps and plans of towns, such as Zutphen, Wageningen, and Hattem. The present copy is one of the very few with the title page, maps, plans, and coats of arms in a contemporary hand-colouring, some of which have been heightened with gold. It has also been beautifully bound by the "Vase Block Bindery" in Utrecht.
The present work is partly a translation of the Latin Historiae Gelrica (1639) by Johannes Pontanus (1571-1639). However, his student, Arend van Slichtenhorst (1616-1657) thoroughly revised, corrected, and much enlarged it. Where Pontanus included four double-page bird's-eye views covering only the most important Gelderland cities, Slichtenhorst provides 10, each with a profile across the top, plus 16 smaller maps and views of cities and fortifications on 5 additional double-page plates and another with a map of the royal hunting grounds. The large folding map, by Willem Jansz. Blaeu, gives an overview of the entire province, while 4 double-page maps render parts of the province in greater detail. Slichtenhorst's work was first published in 1653, and is here present in its 1654 re-issue. It is a classic in its field and here with all the maps and views in a striking beautiful contemporary colour and embellished with gold
The edges and corners of the boards are somewhat scuffed, the spine has been rubbed, with some loss of material at the head and foot, the joints are somewhat weakened, but the structural integrity of the binding is still intact. The title-page and some of the double-page views have been backed, some minor stains or holes on some of the leaves. Otherwise in good condition. A classic history and description of Gelderland, beautifully coloured. Bodel Nijenhuis 582; Nijhoff & V. Hattum 281; cf. for the binding: Storm van Leeuwen, Dutch Decorated Bookbinding IIB, pp. 757-761.