Historiae Sacrae / Bybelsche Figuren / Figures of the Bible - 1659

Magnificent and fully complete copy of the iconic seventeenth-century Schut-Bible / 'Bybelsche Figuren', published in Amsterdam by Nicolaes Visscher I in the early period (approximately 1659–1662).
This monumental etching work is bound in the rare and sought-after long, oblong octavo format and contains the complete set of 258 fabulous copper engravings. The plates are masterfully etched and engraved by the renowned Amsterdam artist Pieter Hendrik Schut (c. 1619–1660), who based them on the famous compositions of the Swiss master Matthäus Merian, augmented with his own designs.
Bibliographical construction & completeness:
This copy is collated and 100% bibliographically complete. It contains all three original parts in one volume, including the engraved title plate and the rare typographic preliminaries:
* Part 1 & 2 (Old Testament): 173 copper engravings (including the official 'FINIS' page at plate 111 of the second part).
* Part 3 (New Testament): 85 copper engravings, opened by the engraved title plate (Thesaurus Historiarum Novi Testamenti).
* Total number of plates: 258 pieces.
Unique deluxe export edition:
This concerns the coveted international edition. The reverse sides of the plates carry edifying explanatory text and verse in as many as five languages: Latin, French, German (in beautiful Gothic script), English and Dutch. The main title page is signed with the early publisher’s mark “Amstelodami, Apud Nicolaum Visscher”.
Condition of the interior:
The hand-made seventeenth-century linen paper is in strikingly fresh, clean, and healthy condition. The paper is bright with very minimal foxing or aging discoloration, which is exceptional for a picture Bible of over 360 years old. The copper-plate prints are sharp and high-contrast (early printing run). As is customary with heavily used objects, there is a single page with an old, stable historical repair in the margin (as with plate LIII), which does not affect the aesthetics of the engraving. Edges are not worn or frayed.
Dimensions:
Approximately 20.0 cm x 15.4 cm (Oblong 8vo).
A rare, intact survivor from Amsterdam’s Golden Age of printmaking. Perfect for the serious collector of antique books and prints.
Interior in very good, fresh condition with 258 engravings; binding professionally renewed in the recent past.