Jean François LE PETIT (1546 c.-after 1615)
La grande chronique ancienne et moderne, de Hollande, Zelande, VVest-Frise, Utrecht, Frise, Overijssel & Groningen, jusques à la fin de l’An 1600. Receüillee tant des histoires desdites Provinces, que de divers autres Auteurs, par Iean François Le Petit, Greffier de Bethune en Arthois. Tome Premier. A Dordrecht, De l’impression de Iacob Canin, pour l’Auteur, 1601. Tome Second. A Dordrecht, De l’Impression de Guillaume Guillemot, 1601
Small folio (350x250).
I vol: [22], 650 (recte 654), 240 (but 242, + 4 pp. repeated), [18] pp. Signature: *8, 3, A5, B-Z8, Aa-Rr8, Ss10, aaa1, Aaa-Ppp8, A8, B1. Engraved title, engraved portrait of the author, 40 engraved portraits (1-32 numbered, 33-40 unnumbered or misnumbered); woodcut initials. Index bound at the end of the volume (sometimes is found bound at the beginning).
Several pages misnumbered, several mistakes in the catchwords, some due to lines printed twice or not printed. Pp. 3-4 and 13-14 of the second part present twice. So many misprints actually (see appendix of a full list and a comparison with digitized copies), to fully justify the choice to entrust the second volume to a different printer. From a comparison with the digitized copies it appears that some typos have been corrected in the latter, suggesting that the present copy was among the first printed, before the corrections; this would also correspond to our hypothesis regarding portrait no. 4 (see below).
II vol.: [16], 799 (recte 800), [16] pp. Signature: *8, A-Z8, Aa-Zz8, Aaa-Bbb8, Ccc10, Ddd8. Engraved title, 17 unnumbered engravings (16 portraits and an allegorical depiction of the States General). Added 21 (mainly double-page, some folding) engraved plates, on verso of each, in an ancient hand, is given at which page they must be inserted. Some pages misnumbered. Last line of the right column on p. 154 missing, printed on a separate strip of paper and added in place; two variant of the corrections are known, the present one has the word vouloyent correctly spelled: “A la fin de la 2e col. de la page 154 de ce vol. une ligne d’impression a été omise. Cette ligne, contenant les mots: “leur vouloyent promettre asseurance cõtre”y a été ajoutée plus tard, au moyen d’une bande de papier collée sur le feuillet. Dans quelques exemplaires cette bande porte “youloyent” au lieu de “vouloyent”, et d’autres n’ont pas cette correction, probablement parce que la bande c’est détachée” (Bibliotheca Belgica).
All but one (last portrait of the 1st vol.) are signed by Christoffel van Sichem. The additional plates depict battles and sieges scenes and are mainly unsigned, with the following exceptions: one has the monogram P. b (Pieter Bast) F, one is signed BDoland sculp. Hen L. Haesteius execud and one is signed P. Bast F.
Richly illustrated work, with the portrait of the relevant historical characters, not only Dutch, but also of importance for Dutch history: among others the well known portrait of Elisabeth I, of the count of Leicester and of Alexandre Farnese duc of Parma.
All the illustrations are beautifully hand-coloured and, delicately enhanced in gold, adding an extra charm to an already interesting work. The further additions, that will be discussed later, make this copy exceptional.
... Very attractive later gilt-tooled green calf, gilt decorations and title-pieces on spine, a truly fine copy.
Sachgebiete: Geschichte, Illustrierte Bücher
29.07.2026 - 18:25
55000,- EUR
Mc Rare books b.v.
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