Augustijn van Teylingen (toegeschreven) - Op-komste der Neder-landtsche beroerten "Ceulen-editie" - 1666

Offered is the "Ceulen edition of 1666," a seventeenth-century edition of Opkomst der Nederländsche beroerten, invoeringhe der ketterijen, kerck-schenderijen, ende grouwelycke moorden, published in Ceulen (Cologne) in 1666, for the widow and heirs of Gasper de Kremer, executed in the original parchment binding.

This special historical book was in fact an illicit and illegally printed book within the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.

Anonymous (attributed to) by the Jesuit Augustinus van Teylingen under the pseudonym "a lover of truth and the salvation of souls".

In the 17th-century Republic, Calvinism (Protestantism) was the state religion. The Catholic Church was officially banned and Catholics were allowed to profess their faith only in secret (in hiding churches).

The author, Augustinus van Teylingen, was an active Jesuit. Jesuits were known for opposing Protestantism and were regarded by the Protestant authorities as spies of the Spanish enemy or the Pope.

In the book, Van Teylingen does not describe the Dutch Revolt as a heroic struggle for freedom against Spanish tyranny (the official Protestant narrative), but as an illegal, bloody rebellion driven by "heresy." This was at the time a direct attack on the legitimacy of the state. The open possession, printing, or sale of such texts was strictly forbidden by government enforcement (proclamations).

To evade Protestant censorship and severe punishments, the author and the printer applied refined smuggling and printing tactics:

The fictional imprint ("Ceulen"): Although the title page states that the book was printed in Ceulen (Cologne), it is very likely a false address. Cologne was Catholic territory, so printing there was allowed. Often, however, books of this kind were secretly printed in the Republic itself (for example in Amsterdam, where Van Teylingen secretly resided at the time) and provided with a foreign place name to mislead the authorities.

The Pseudonym: Van Teylingen wrote it under the pseudonym "a lover of truth and the salvation of souls." If his real name had appeared on the cover, he would have been declared outlaw and banished (or worse).

The work covers the religious and political unrest in the Netherlands and forms an interesting historical document from the seventeenth century. It offers a fascinating, strictly Roman Catholic view on the origins of the Eighty Years’ War and the Dutch Revolt. It portrays the revolt as a period of religious and political turmoil and the introduction of Protestantism as "heresy."

As stated on the title page, this work contains at the end eight placards. These are official ordinances and decrees issued by the government (such as the States of Holland and Zeeland) dealing with the religious conflicts. Van Teylingen added these to argue that the rebels (Protestants) broke these laws themselves first.

This book is a tangible relic of the underground religious media war in the Golden Age. The fact that this 1666 copy has survived the centuries in its original parchment binding means it was successfully smuggled or kept hidden from Protestant inspectors (the schout).

In short, an interesting collectible, bibliographically described under Begheyn, no. 238. For lovers of old prints, Dutch history, and seventeenth-century book history.

This 360-year-old book is in surprisingly good condition; spine undamaged, vellum intact. The pages show no damage and little to no staining and/or foxing; see photos which are part of the description. A notable plus is that the eight accompanying placards are present.