E. Heimans en Jac. P. Thijsse - In het Vondelpark - 1901

E. Heimans & Jac. P. Thijsse – In het Vondelpark – First edition – 1901
Special first edition of In het Vondelpark, written by the well-known Dutch nature conservationists and nature educators Eli Heimans (1861–1914) and Jac. P. Thijsse (1865–1945).
Published in Amsterdam by W. Versluys in 1901.
The book was written at the request of friends of the Vondelpark and forms an early natural-historical description of the famous Amsterdam park. Heimans and Thijsse describe during their walks among other things trees, plants, birds, flowers and the layout and history of the park.
This edition is furthermore culturally historically interesting: In het Vondelpark was one of the joint works of Heimans and Thijsse and is even in the literature referred to as their last joint book project. �
DBNL
Bibliographic data
Author: E. Heimans & Jac. P. Thijsse
Title: In het Vondelpark
Publisher: W. Versluys, Amsterdam
Year: 1901
Edition: first edition
Extent: 164 pages (last text page 159, followed by indexes etc.)
Illustrated with 39 illustrations
Provided with two floor plans
Original decorative publisher’s binding
Binding design: W.F.A. Pothast �
Rijksmuseum.nl
A notable feature is the large multi-foldable map of the Vondelpark, on which among other things roads, water features, trees and plantings are indicated. The maps make the book interesting not only for collectors of Heimans and Thijsse, but also for collectors of Amsterdam topography, historic city parks and cartography.
The original binding is beautifully executed in ochre-yellow/brown linen with black floral Art Nouveau-like decoration, a swan medallion and gold-colored title printing. The spine is also decoratively printed. The flyleaves have an attractive floral design.
Condition:
For a book of more than 125 years old an attractive copy. The original binding is well preserved with normal light signs of use and aging, mainly at corners, edges and spine. Interior largely clean and well-kept with slight aging discoloration and incidental small spots. Binding looks solid. The large fold-out map shown is present and, given its age, in neat condition, with the original folds. The book contains another map and is complete. The photos also show that the numerous illustrations are well preserved. The book contains both botanical drawings – including magnolia and lily-of-the-valley – as well as early photographic images of the Vondelpark.
See the photos for a good impression of execution and condition.