Commelin, Isaac
First editions of Commelin’s biographies of the princes of Orange, rare with hand-coloring and gilt, containing many maps and views including of America and the Arctic—an oft overlooked Americanum. Maurice of Nassau, later prince of Orange, was a major player in the Dutch Revolt against Spain, which had fronts around the world. His rule corresponded with the flowering of the Dutch Golden Age and the founding of both the East and West India companies, and this biography includes finely colored engravings depicting not only military conquests and maps, but Willem Barentsz's search for the Northeast passage in the Siberian Arctic, an expedition supported by Maurice, as well a dodo bird on the island of Mauritius, named for him (the island, not the bird).
[with]: Commelin, Isaac. Wilhelm en Maurits van Nassau Princen van Orangien haer leven en bedryf. Amsterdam: Ian Jansz, 1651. [And:] Frederick Hendrick van Nassauw prince van orangien zyn leven en bedryf. Amsterdam: Jodocus Jansonius; Paulus Matthysz, 1651. Four volumes in two, folio (310 x 200mm). I: Engraved additional title, armorial, and 2 portraits, 47 double-page or larger engraved plates, all hand-colored and heightened with gilt (a few engravings just shaved at plate mark, one backed with new paper, dampstain at lower gutter). II: Half title printed in red and black (lacking letterpress title). Engraved additional title, portrait, and 34 double-page or larger engravings all hand-colored and heightened in gilt (large folding plate of procession with losses at folds, backed with new paper; a few small tears, dampstain in lower gutter). Both volumes in contemporary Dutch blindstamped vellum (lacking ties, joint cracking in II).
Provenance: Gustav Maria Leonhardt, 1928-2012, master harpsichordist and interpreter of Baroque music (his sale, Sotheby's, 29 April 2014, lot 613); The Magnificent Library of Norman Bobins: Part One, American Color, 16 June, 2023, lot 21.
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