Details
MONTANUS, Arnoldus. Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen der Oost-Indische Maetschappy in't Vereenigde Nederland aen de Kaisaren van Japan, Amsterdam: Jacob Meurs, 1669. 2 (369 x 237mm.), title printed in red and black, additional engraved title, engraved folding map and 23 plates only (of 24), 70 engraved illustrations (lacking the 'Temple van Dayboth' plate, short tears to old folds of 9 plates, the majority affecting blank margins only, text illustrations on p. 69 partially defaced affecting image of naked woman only, one plate dampstained, a few leaves browned, tear to G1, short tear to blank margin of 3N1), contemporary blind-stamped vellum (small split to upper joint, slightly bowed), inscription in Dutch in 19th-century hand on free endpaper.
The inscription at the front was probably written while the book belonged to the seminary in Bruges, under whose ownership it is likely that the mild censorship of the present copy took place: the plate illustrating Japan's supposed religious decadence, the 'Tempel van Dayboth', was removed, and features disturbing to young seminarians were carefully removed from the apparently 'immodest' engraving on page 62. Lipperheide Lf2.
The inscription at the front was probably written while the book belonged to the seminary in Bruges, under whose ownership it is likely that the mild censorship of the present copy took place: the plate illustrating Japan's supposed religious decadence, the 'Tempel van Dayboth', was removed, and features disturbing to young seminarians were carefully removed from the apparently 'immodest' engraving on page 62. Lipperheide Lf2.