A. Pher de la Croix - Algemeene Weereld-Beschryving - 1705

General World Description.

General World Description, according to the Rightful Division of the Lands, Places, Seas, Rivers, &c. Geographically, Politically, Historically, Chronologically and Genealogically

Parts 1 and 2 of this very rare work. In later leather bindings rebound. Occasionally a page is loose and sometimes a few pages have underlined sentences. Part 2 has a small light discoloration at the top. There are no engravings left; otherwise the set would have a completely different price. Sets like these have previously sold at auctions for between 8,000 and 12,000 euros. Nowadays, complete sets of the General World Description are rare and sought-after collectibles at historic auctions, as can be seen in the Christie’s and Sotheby’s archives.

Total 1000 pages of reading pleasure! A unique chance to obtain something special in your hands!

First Dutch edition of La Croix’s general description of the world
It is regarded as an important example of early-18th-century Dutch cosmography and geographical description. This extensive multi-volume work offered a detailed geographical, political, and historical description of all continents, countries, seas, and rivers known at the time.

The book describes the world on geographic, political, historical, and chronological levels.
See the photos

The work originally consists of three parts; Part 1 and 2 deal with Europe, while Part 3 covers Asia, Africa, and America. The offered Part 1 and 2 thus concern Europe as standalone parts.

The division differs from our current map of countries. In 1705, for example, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Prussia, and the individual German princely states are treated as separate regions.

Part 1 – Europe

In the first part, among others, the following European countries and regions are covered:

Netherlands / the United Netherlands
Flanders
Brabant
Holland
Zeeland
Utrecht
Gelderland
Overijssel
Friesland
Groningen
Drenthe
France
Spain
Portugal
England
Scotland
Ireland
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
Iceland

Part 2 – Europe

Here the European description continues, including among others:

Germany / the Holy Roman Empire
Austria
Bohemia
Moravia
Silesia
Hungary
Poland
Prussia
Muscovy / Russia
Switzerland
Italy
Venice
the Ecclesiastical State
the Kingdom of Naples
Sicily
Sardinia
Greece
the Greek islands
the Ottoman Empire / European Turkey
Dalmatia
Croatia
Slavonia
Bosnia
Serbia
Romania / Wallachia
Moldavia

This is a historical geographical division. It describes not only sovereign countries, but also landscapes, duchies, kingdoms and provinces. That explains why there are many more names than on a modern map.