[DOMSELAER, Tobias van, Arnoldus MONTANUS, Isaak COMMELIN, Olfert DAPPER and others].
Beschryvinge van Amsterdam, haar eerste oorspronk uyt den Huyze der Heeren van Aemstel en Aemstellant ... Uyt verscheyde oude en nieuwe Hollandsche Kronijcken, Beschrijvingen, Brieven, Willekeuren, &c. by een vergadert ...
Amsterdam, Marcus Willemsz. Doornick, 1665. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With an engraved allegorical frontispiece, 8 engraved plates (1 folding, 7 double-page), and 111 engravings in the text. Slightly later gold-tooled mottled calf. [8], 284, [2], 312, 446, [114] pp.
€ 3,500
First and only edition of an extensive and important history and description of Amsterdam, richly illustrated with nearly 120 maps, plans, and views. It is a compilation of several of the most important works on Amsterdam, published separately in 1663 and 1664, which were brought together, edited, and updated by the Amsterdam historian and director (Regent) of the Amsterdam Theatre, Tobias van Domselaer (1611-1685) under whose name the work became known. It gives a very good impression of the time when Amsterdam grew into one of the most important cities of the world.
The work is divided into 6 "books." Book I is taken from Arnoldus Montanus 1664 Beschrijvinge der Eerste Inwoonders van Amstellandt . Books II-IV are expanded from the 1664 Beschrijvingh der Wijdt-vermaarde Koop-stadt Amstelredam, nominally a third edition of Melchior Fokkenss 1662 description, but a considerably different text, said to be the work of Domselaer and Commelin. Books V & VI are attributed mostly to Olfert Dapper and apparently updated from his 1663 Historische Beschryving der Stadt Amsterdam, including information about, for example, the weekly number of burials for the whole of 1663 and 1664 and the division of burials among the various churches. The appendix lists city officials up to and including the year 1665, and ministers of the Dutch Reformed church.
The Haarlem Courant for 29 September 1665 announced the work's publication. It is typographically interesting, with some types cut by Christoffel van Dijck, but also some not cut by him that appear to be new at this date, including the rare Ascendonica (about 24 point) italic used for many of the chapter headings.
The edges and corners of the boards are somewhat scuffed, the top of the spine is torn, without losses, lacking part of the headband, the boards are somewhat rubbed and scratched. Internally lightly browned and foxed. Otherwise in good condition. Nijhoff & V. Hattum 80; NNBW 8, cols. 408-409; STCN 844195251 (16 copies, of which 1 incomplete); cf. for the maps and city views: DAilly, Plattegronden, 16-17, 51, 142, 182 & Profielen, 5, 96-97; for some of the illustrations: Hollstein (Dutch and Flemisch), XXXII, pp. 187-205, nos. 3-71; and LI, pp. 195-199, nos. 1-6.
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