Kennet - Aaloudheden van Rome - 1704

(54x64 cm) LARGE FORMAT, LARGE ILLUSTRATIONS: THE MONUMENTAL IMPERIAL ROME
Splendid first and only Dutch edition of the “Antichities of Rome,” characterized by large double-page illustrations (54x64 cm). Translated from English by W. Séwel and printed in Amsterdam by the renowned François Halma, this work represents one of the most complete and visually satisfying treatises on Roman civilization published at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
Kennet managed to synthesize with encyclopedic clarity every aspect of Rome’s public and private life: from religion to the circus games, from military strategies to matrimonial rites.
The volume stands out for the clarity of its types and the quality of the “fine copper plates” that illustrate the squares, costumes, laws, and institutions of ancient Rome, making it an indispensable piece for every collection devoted to antiquarianism and the Dutch Golden Age of printing.
MARKET VALUE
The appraisal for a copy of this edition, complete with plates and in good condition, ranges from €3,700 to €4,200. The value is influenced by the fame of the Halma printing house and the aesthetic charm of the numerous large-format, double-page illustrations. Illustrated Dutch editions from the early eighteenth century maintain steady demand on the international market due to their technical excellence and decorative appeal.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION - COLLECTOR'S COPY
Large-format folio (54 x 32 cm); [6], 260, [23] pages; illustrated with 20 in-text engravings and 18 large engraved plates, including 3 maps. First and only edition. Complete work. Among the plates there are numerous maps and plans of Rome folded or double-page; the remaining engravings depict views, squares, buildings, ancient structures, ruins, catacomb paintings, etc. Contains a repeatedly folded view of Johannes van den Aveele’s triumphal procession.
Large out-of-text copper-engraved plates, double-page, showing Roman uses, costumes, and architecture.
Copy in overall excellent condition. Frontispiece printed in red and black with a central copper-engraved vignette signed, depicting classical allegories and Roman ruins. Text clear on sturdy paper, with wide margins. Contemporary full leather binding with raised bands and gilt-tooled spine, with signs of wear and small losses.
FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
De aaloudheden van Rome, of beschryving van de geleerdheyd en opvoeding der Romeynen : van de opkomst, voortgang, en 't verval van den Roomschen Staat : en van den godsdienst, Regeering, wetten, straffen, manier van oorlogen, en veel andere merkwaardige
Amsterdam, Gedrukt by François Halma, Boekverkooper, 1704.
Basilius Kennet
Translation by W. Séwel.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
"Le Antichità di Roma, ovvero descrizione della cultura e dell'educazione dei Romani: dell'ascesa, del progresso e della decadenza dello Stato Romano: e della religione, del governo, delle leggi, delle punizioni, del modo di guerreggiare e di molte altre cose notevoli."
De Aaloudheden van Rome constitutes the Dutch version of the celebrated Romae Antiquae Notitia, originally published in Oxford in 1696. For decades, this work was the standard reference manual in schools and universities across Europe for the study of Roman civilization. Unlike the heavy academic tomes of the seventeenth century, Kennet managed to synthesize with encyclopedic clarity every aspect of Rome’s public and private life: from religion to circuses, from military strategies to matrimonial rites. The Halma edition of 1704 further elevates the scientific content, transforming it into a luxury object destined for the emerging educated class and the Dutch mercantile bourgeoisie, eager to mirror the civic and monumental values of the classical world.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Basilius Kennet (1674–1715) was an English scholar, theologian, and antiquarian. Brother of Bishop White Kennett, he studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he later became rector. Beyond his role as chaplain in Livorno, where he witnessed the religious tensions of the Mediterranean, Kennet distinguished himself by his ability to make classical learning accessible to a broad audience. His work on Roman antiquities was so successful that it was reprinted and translated across Europe, influencing generations of scholars. He was also a prolific translator, bringing Pascal and Puffendorf to English readers, confirming his role as a cultural mediator between Europe’s nations.
PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
François Halma (1653–1722) was one of the most important booksellers and printers operating in Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Leeuwarden. Known for his closeness to the Dutch humanist circles, his editions are celebrated for philological accuracy and the beauty of their typographic ornaments. This 1704 edition marks the international success of Kennet’s work, which, through Amsterdam—then the capital of the European book market—reached private and institutional libraries across continental Europe, consolidating the text’s fortune throughout the eighteenth century.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Brunet, III, 652 (for related editions).
Graesse, IV, 12 (cited for the original English edition).
STCN (Short Title Catalogue Netherlands), reference no. 165384232.
Elias, A. C., The Library of Swift, 2003 (on the dissemination of Kennet’s works).
Linders, R., The Art of the Book in the Dutch Republic, 1994 (on the Halma context).