Wagenaar - Amsterdam in Zyne Opkomst - 1767

AMSTERDAM, THE QUEEN OF THE SEA: THE GREAT ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE CAPITAL OF COMMERCE, WITH RARE SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY MAPS AND ENGRAVINGS
A monumental journey through the history of Amsterdam, capital of the Dutch commercial power and protagonist of the European Golden Age. Published in 1767, this imposing folio volume documents the growth of the city, its institutions and its wealth. Enhanced by large folded geographical maps, panoramic views and refined engraved plates. A fascinating testimony to urban history, architecture and the mercantile expansion of the Netherlands. An eighteenth-century full-leather binding with gilded motifs, of notable antiquarian charm despite significant conservation defects.

ABSTRACT
Important and fascinating volume of the great history of Amsterdam by Jan Wagenaar, one of the most authoritative Dutch historians of the eighteenth century. The work, famous for the breadth of its project and for its rich illustrative apparatus, reconstructs the city’s development in its multiple aspects: urban birth, institutional growth, commerce, buildings, churches, corporations, civic militias and government. The copy presented here belongs to the third volume and is particularly interesting for the presence of folded plates and maps, which enrich the historical narrative with precious visual documentation.

WHY TO BUY
This is a work of great interest for collectors of urban history, topography, Dutch history and eighteenth-century illustrated books. Wagenaar was among the leading interpreters of the civic memory of the Netherlands, and his monumental description of Amsterdam remains one of the most important testimonies about the city in the modern era. The presence of engraved plates, views, and folded maps makes the work particularly desirable also for those who collect iconographic material relating to the Netherlands.

MARKET VALUE
The monumental 1767 edition by Jan Wagenaar is valued by collectors of Dutch history, antique cartography and topographical views. Complete three-volume sets can fetch commercial values of 500–1,500 euros, depending on the completeness of the engravings and the condition of the bindings. The third volume, offered here individually, is of particular interest for the large folded geographic maps and the seventeenth-century copperplate views; a provisional commercial valuation of 400–600 euros seems appropriate.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Contemporary full leather binding, with gold-decorated raised bands on the spine, signs of wear. Binding loosened, issues partly detached. Physiological browning, damp stains, and signs of use. Notable are double-page or folded engraved plates and maps. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always evident in the description. This listing contains AI Visuals. Please refer to the original photographs to verify the actual condition of the object. Images are an integral part of the description. Pp. (6); 2nn; 566; (4).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Jan Wagenaar.
Amsterdam in zyne opkomst, aanwas, geschiedenissen.
Te Amsterdam, by Yntema en Tieboel, 1767.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
This work belongs to the grand tradition of eighteenth-century Dutch urban historiography. Amsterdam, at the center of international trade and the political and economic life of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, was the subject of strong antiquarian and documentary interest. Wagenaar treats the city as a complex historical organism, intertwining chronicle, institutions, economic life, religion, architecture and topography. The result is an articulate and ambitious description that returns Amsterdam’s profile as a mercantile capital and a symbol of Dutch urban civilization.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Jan Wagenaar (1709-1773) was a Dutch historian and writer, best known for his works on the history of the Netherlands and of Amsterdam. Self-taught, he rose to prominence for clarity of exposition and for the ability to combine erudition and historical narrative. He is remembered as one of the most important Dutch historians of the eighteenth century and as the author of works that achieved wide diffusion among scholars, educated readers and civic circles.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Amsterdam in zyne opkomst, aanwas, geschiedenissen was published in multiple parts and volumes during the latter half of the eighteenth century. The work enjoyed significant circulation in the Netherlands thanks to the author’s prestige and the persistent interest in the city’s history. The volumes, often accompanied by plates and engraved maps, were conceived as a historical and descriptive repertory of wide consultation, intended for both reading and long-term preservation in private and institutional libraries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
A well-known work within Dutch historiography and topographical literature dedicated to Amsterdam. A precise bibliographic verification of the individual tome, its collations and sequence of plates is particularly important for a definitive cataloging description, given the composite nature of the work and the frequent dispersion of engravings across the loose volumes.