Simon van Leeuwen - BATAVIA ILLUSTRATA - 1685

Simon van Leeuwen (1626–1682) was a prominent Dutch jurist, historian, and genealogist. He became best known for his legal standard works, but he also engaged intensely in the history of Holland and the ancient Batavians. His historiography is characterized by a critical attitude toward his sources. He made use of chronicles, charters, diplomas, and other authentic documents, with which he sought to write a more scientifically substantiated history than many of his predecessors.
Batavia Illustrata appeared posthumously in 1685, three years after Van Leeuwen’s death. The extensive work was published in The Hague by Johan Veely, Johan Tongerloo, and Jasper Doll. The first part deals with the origin of the Batavians, their way of life, religion, state organization, and the earliest history of Holland; the second part focuses mainly on the Dutch nobility, lineages, and administrative history. Thus Batavia Illustrata forms an important monument of seventeenth-century Dutch historiography.
The book offered here concerns the first part of the original 1685 edition. Chapters I through XI belong to the historical and ethnographic section, in which Van Leeuwen discusses the classical sources (such as Tacitus), the geographical location of ancient Batavia, and the customs of the Batavians in detail. These chapters contain mainly continuous text with marginal references and an extensive title page.
According to ChatGPT, this first part – and thus also the portion up to and including chapter XI – contains no separate engravings, maps, or prints. The edition is mainly typographic in execution. Batavia Illustrata is a remarkable work, precisely because it stands on the boundary between the Renaissance chronicle and modern historiography.
Text title page
Batavia Illustrata ofte Verhandelinge vanden Oorspronk, Voortgank, Zeden, Eere, Staat en Godtsdienst van Oud Batvieren
Mitsgaders Van den Adel en Regeringe van Hollandt,
Ten deele uyt W. van Gouthoven, en other Schryvers, but especially from a multitude of old writings and authentic pieces and proofs, Together compiled by Sir Simon van Leeuwen
In sijn leven Substituyt Griffier vanden Hoge Rade van Hollant, Zeelandt, en Westvrieslandt.
In ’s-Gravenhage, By Johan Veely, Johan Tongerloo, en Jasper Doll,
Boekverkoopers, Anno 1685. Met Privilegie voor 15 Jaren

Contents: This part runs to page 664 or chapter XI; the continuation (chapters XII and XIII) is bound in another binding; [Information from STCN states: “Volume 1 in 2 parts; all published”].
Title page engraving (Andries Vaillant fec.) ; title page in red and black; (30), 664 pp.

Condition: good; bound in parchment; spine damaged (see photos); boards decorated in blind embossing; provenance (A.J. van der Poest Clement) on flyleaf; pencil note on title page of index; very good book block; fresh pages; of course there are some signs of use and wear, but the book has nevertheless withstood the centuries very well; photos form an integral part of the description.

Size: 40.6 x 24.5 cm
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