Jacob van Royen / Richard Verstegen - Antiquitates Belgicae. Of Nederlandsche Oudtheden - 1701

AMAZING HAND COLORED ILLUSTRATED EDITION ON HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF LOW COUNTRIES, NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG, NORTH WEST GERMANY, NORTH EAST FRANCE by Jacob van Royen (ca.1645–1723), an Amsterdam publisher, bookseller and printer. Richly illustrated with one illustrated frontispiece, 21 copperplate engravings, and a big fold-out map of the Low Countries, all hand-colored at the time. It recounts in particular the origins and birth of Holland, Zeeland, the Diocese of Utrecht, Overijssel, Friesland, Brabant, Flanders, etc. The story begins with the period when various Gallic, Celtic, German tribes lived in the area during the Iron Age, Teutonic mythology, and moves on to the Roman presence and the transition to the first subdivisions in the form of city-states, principalities, and kingdoms in the Middle Ages, the struggle between paganism, idols, revolts, the phase of Christianization, and the struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism. The large, hand-colored map depicts the Low Countries (Germania Inferior) in ancient times, with the locations of the various tribes (Batavi, Bructeri, Cananefates, Chatti, Chauci, Chamavi, Marsi, etc.) before and during the Roman conquest. The origins and history of many cities still present in the Benelux are also described. The text and illustrations are intact, rare defects, the binding is in full leather, richly decorated with gilded friezes and elaborate dry inlays, and everything is in excellent condition as shown in the photos. COMPLETE HAND COLORED EDITION.

The fine illustrations are by Jan Goeree (1670–1731), a Dutch painter, draughtsman, engraver and etcher. He was the son of Willem Goeree, a Dutch art theorist and Middelburg bookseller who undertook a comprehensive survey of the various techniques necessary to make a great artist. At a young age, he moved with his father to Amsterdam. Among other things, he made engravings of various buildings in Amsterdam. In 1705, he was commissioned by the city council to make sketches for the paintings of the vault of the great hall of the city hall. The text is co-authored with Cornelis or Kornelis van Alkemade (1654–1737), a Dutch historian and collector of antiquities, including coins and ancient manuscripts. Thanks to his numerous publications, van Alkemade gained considerable authority in his time as an expert on antiquities. One of the best Dutch productions of the 17th century. LITERATURE/REFERENCES: World Cat OCLC n°962136606; USTC n°1848237; Amsterdam, NetherlandsRijksmuseum Shelfmark: KOG O-354 [1]; Short Title Catalogue Netherlands Reference: 303344563; Ireland, Dublin, Trinity College Shelfmark: Fag.T.3.63.

TITLE : Antiquitates Belgicae, Of Nederlandsche Oudtheden. Zijnde d'Eerste Opkomst van Holland, Zeeland, 't Sticht Utrecht, Overyzel, Vriesland, Braband, Vlaanderen, enz...(Belgian Antiquities. Or Dutch Antiquities. Being the First Rise of Holland, Zeeland, the Diocese of Utrecht, Overijssel, Friesland, Brabant, Flanders, etc. Together with Their Land's Origin, Progress, First Christianity, and Wonderful Stories that Occurred in Those Times, both in these and in other countries. Decorated with art prints....)
AUTHOR: Jacob van Royen (ca.1645–1723) and Cornelis or Kornelis van Alkemade (1654–1737), after Richard Verstegen also known as Richard Rowlands (ca.1550–1640)
PUBLISHER: Jacob van Royen (ca.1645–1723)
DATE: 1701, printed in Amsterdam, text in Dutch

DESCRIPTION: In 8vo size, height 153 x width 102 mm (6.1 by 4.1 inches). Pages [16], 224, [16]. Richly illustrated with a double title, one engraved frontispiece, a big folding map, plus 21 copper engraving plates, all handcoloured and mostly full page. Text and illustrations well printed and intact, few small stains and rare defects, overall an excellent copy, rare to find complete and hand colored. Antique full leather binding in the Romantic style of around 1840, richly decorated with gilded friezes and elaborate dry inlays, small defects, everything is in excellent condition as shown in the photos. COMPLETE HAND COLORED EDITION.

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