Kennet - Aaloudheden van Rome - 1704

(54x64 cm) LARGE FORMAT, LARGE ILLUSTRATIONS: THE MONUMENTAL IMPERIAL ROME
Splendid first and only Dutch edition of the "Antichità di Roma", characterized by large two-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 18th 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 tactics to wedding rites.
The volume stands out for the sharpness of the types and the quality of the "fine copper plates" that illustrate the squares, customs, laws, and institutions of ancient Rome, making it an indispensable piece for any 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 Euro. The value is influenced by the fame of the Halma printing works and the aesthetic charm of the numerous large-format, double-page illustrations. The illustrated Dutch editions of the early 18th century maintain steady demand on the international market due to their technical and decorative excellence.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION - COLLECTOR'S COPY
Large-format in-folio copy (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 folded maps and plans of Rome, and the remaining engravings depict views, squares, buildings, ancient structures, ruins, catacomb paintings, etc. Includes a view of the triumphal procession of Johannes van den Aveele that is repeatedly folded.
Large copper-engraved plates, out of text, in double-page format, illustrating Roman customs, manners, and architecture.
Copy in overall excellent condition. Frontispiece printed in red and black with a central copper-engraved vignette bound, depicting classical allegories and Roman ruins. Text clear on sturdy paper, with wide margins. Contemporary full-leather binding with gilt-tooled spine, 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, or a description of the culture and education of the Romans: of the rise, progress, and decadence of the Roman State: and of religion, government, laws, punishments, the way of warring, and many other notable things."
De Aaloudheden van Rome constitutes the Dutch version of the famous 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 17th century, Kennet managed to synthesize with encyclopedic clarity every aspect of Rome’s public and private life: from religion to circus games, from military strategies to wedding rites. The Halma edition of 1704 further elevates the scientific content, transforming it into a luxury object intended for the rising cultured class and the Dutch mercantile bourgeoisie, eager to reflect the civic and monumental values of the classical world.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Basilius Kennet (1674–1715) was an English scholar, theologian, and antiquary. Brother of Bishop White Kennett, he studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he later became rector. Beyond his activity as chaplain in Livorno, where he witnessed the religious tensions of the Mediterranean, Kennet distinguished himself for his ability to make classical learning accessible to the general public. His work on Roman antiquities was so successful that it was reprinted and translated throughout Europe, influencing generations of scholars. He was also a prolific translator, bringing into English works by Pascal and Puffendorf, confirming his role as a cultural mediator among the different nations of the continent.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
François Halma (1653–1722) was one of the most important booksellers and printers operating between Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Leeuwarden. Noted for his closeness to the circles of Dutch humanism, his editions are celebrated for philological accuracy and the beauty of the 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, cementing the text’s fortune throughout the 18th century.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Brunet, III, 652 (for related editions).
Graesse, IV, 12 (cited for the English original).
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 context of François Halma).