Forum Rare Books

Famous poem with moral lessons for unmarried women, married women and widows

HOUWAERT, Jean Baptista. Pegasides pleyn. Ofte den lust-hof der maechden.
Volume 1: Delft, Adriaen Gerritsen, 1615 (colophon: 1614); volume 2: Leiden, Jan Paets Jacobszoon, 1611. 8vo. Volume 1 with an engraved title-page by Jan Wiericx and 8 full-page engravings by Jan Wiericx; volume 2 with the main text set in civilité type. Uniform contemporary vellum. XLVI, [2], 867, [1]; 464, 1-471, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Dutch Literature Education & Pedagogy Women History

Four plays by Antwerp rhetoricians, erroneously attributed to Johan Baptiste Houwaert

HOUWAERT, Johan Baptista [recté: MOL, Jacob de, Colyn KEYART and “SMEECKEN” (Jan SMEKEN?)]. Den handel der amoureusheyt inhoudende vier poetische spelen, 1. Van Aeneas ende Dido. 2. Narcissus ende Echo. 3. Mars ende Venus. 4. Leander ende Hero. Poetelijck geinventeert ende rethorijckelijck ghecomponeert.
Rotterdam, Jan van Waesberghe III, 1621. 4 parts in one volume. 8vo. With an engraved ornamental title-page with the title in an oval cartouche and 4 roundels in the corners with scenes from the four plays; 4 full-page engraved plates with similar scenes, one in the preliminaries of each play. Contemporary calf, spine richly gold-tooled in compartments with red title label lettered in gold, gold-tooled board edges. 237 ll. Full description

€ 5,500

Dutch Literature Erotica Music, Theatre & Dance

Third edition of the first poetry collection by one of the most famous poets of the Dutch Golden Age

HUYGENS, Constantijn. Ses boecken van de ledige uren, zijnde ghedichten van verscheyden talen, stijlen, ende stoffen. - Otiorum libri sex. Poëmata varij sermonis, styli, argumenti.
Haarlem, Hans Passchiers van Wesbusch, 1641. Oblong 16mo. Contemporary overlapping vellum, sewn on 2 supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title on the spine. [2], 543, [1] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Dutch Literature

The first illustrated edition in any language, in the tradition of Arabian Nights

[INCUNABLE - GOUDA]. Historia septem sapientiu[m] Rom[a]e.
[Gouda, Gheraert Leeu, before 3 June 1480]. 4to (20.5 x 14 cm). With 4 full-page woodcuts plus 14 repeats. The first initial is supplied in manuscript, in a rich ornamental uncial style in red and blue with brown penwork. All other initials are supplied by hand in simple red uncials. The text is rubricated throughout. Most of the plates are lightly highlighted in yellow and red, by a contemporary hand. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment without a spine, so that the sewing is completely visible. Kept in a modern brown half morocco clamshell box. [79], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 250,000

Early Printing - 15th century Literature

Madame de Pompadour’s “histoire scandaleuse”. One of the few copies surviving the protective efforts of the French ambassador

[KERSTEMAN, Franciscus Lievens]. Historie van mevrouwe de hartoginne van Pompadour. [Wrapper-title: Levensbeschryving van de hartoginne van Pompadour].
Zaltbommel, Johannes Willem Kanneman, 1761. 8vo. With engraved frontispiece and title-page printed in red and black. Recased in 18th-century vellum, later endpapers, preserving the original publisher's printed wrappers. [8], 207, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Dutch Literature France French Literature Women History

Very rare Dutch picaresque novel, with the female protagonist getting caught by pirates
and ending up in the household of an Arabic slave trader

[KERSTEMAN, Petrus Lievens]. De vermakelyke avanturesse, of de dienstmaagd van fortuin. Vervattende hare zonderlinge levensgevallen, ontelbare wederwaardigheden en rampen; zeltzame ontmoetingen, en koddige vryagien; deszelfs driejarige dienst als lakye, gevangenneming op de Moorsche kusten, en hare slavernye in Asia by de Arabieren.
Amsterdam, Steven van Esveldt, 1754. 8vo. With engraved frontispiece. Contemporary mottled half calf, gold-tooled spine, later endpapers. [4], 360 pp Full description

€ 3,500

Arabian Peninsula & Gulf States Dutch Literature Mutiny, Piracy & Shipwrecks North Africa Slavery Travel & Voyages Africa Travel & Voyages Middle East Women History

Extremely rare work by Jan Luykens father on profit without loss, here for the first time including the second part

LUYKEN, Caspar. Onfeylbare regel van winste sonder verlies... Hier is noch achter gevoeght De wissel-banck, geopent door den selven autheur. De derde druck.
Amsterdam, Christoffel Luycken, 1663. 2 parts in 1 volume. 12mo. With small woodcut vignette on 2 title-pages. Contemporary vellum with manuscript title on spine, red speckled edges. 212; 52 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Bibles, Liturgy & Devotional Works Dutch Literature Economic History & Trade

A mirror of labour: 100 trades of the Dutch Golden Age

LUYKEN, Jan and Casper. Spiegel van 't menschelyk Bedryf, vertonende hondert verscheyde ambagten, zeer konstig afgebeeld, en met zeer zinryke spreuken en stigtelyke versen verrykt ...
Amsterdam, Nicolaus Visscher, [1694]. 4to. With 100 numbered full-page engraved plates, an engraved frontispiece, and an engraved title page. Contemporary quarter red sheepskin, marbled paper sides. [1 blank], [102], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 2,750

Dutch Literature Emblems Prints & Print Series

Attractive set containing most of the emblematic works of Jan Luyken, with a total of 700 engravings

LUYKEN, Jan (and Caspar). [Set of 11 works by Jan Luyken].
Amsterdam, widow of P. Arentz, and Kornelis vander Sys, 1708 - 1718 (10 vols.); Haarlem, C.H. Bohn, 1767 (1 vol.). 11 volumes. 8vo. Contemporary uniform half calf, richly gold-tooled spines (10 vols.), the 1767 in slightly different half calf, apparently made to match the earlier ones. Full description

€ 12,000

Art & Art History Dutch Literature Emblems

Very rare edition of an extremely popular history of the most famous
and daring Dutch pirate of the 17th century

[MARITIME HISTORY - PIRACY - CLAES COMPAEN]. 't Begin, midden en eynde der zee-rooveryen, van den alder-fameusten zee-roover, Claes G. Compaen, van Oostzanen in Kennemer-landt. Vervattende sijn wonderlijcke vreemde en lands schadelijcke drijf-tochten. Waer in vertoont wordt, hoe hy met weyningh schepen de zee onveyligh gemaeckt, een ongelooflijcke buyt, en groot getal van schepen van alle landen gerooft ende afgeloopen heeft
Amsterdam, widow of Gijsbert de Groot, 1697. 8vo. With a large woodcut illustration of a Dutch merchant ship on the title page, three woodcut illustrations in the text (including 1 repeat of the title page illustration), and one large decorated woodcut initial. Later greyish-brown wrappers. [1], [1 blank], [4], 42 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Dutch Literature Mutiny, Piracy & Shipwrecks

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