Details
VINCENT, Levinus (1658-1727). Wondertooneel der Nature. Amsterdam: François Halma, 1706 and Gerard Valk and Joannes van Leeuwen, 1715.
2 volumes in 1, 4° (235 x 182mm.). Engraved frontispiece by J. v. Viane after Romeyn de Hooghe, title with engraved vignette, double-page engraved plate by A. van Buysen, title to volume II, 7 folding engraved plates. (Occasional very light spotting to volume I.) Contemporary Dutch calf, gilt (corners a little rubbed).
FIRST EDITION of both parts of the catalogue of the natural-history collection of the Dutch merchant, Levinus Vincent. It was one of the most famous wunderkammern of its age, and was visited by foreign monarchs including Charles III of Spain and Peter the Great of Russia. The collection was started in 1674 by Vincent's brother-in-law, Anthony Breda, and was moved from Amsterdam to Haarlem in 1705 and in 1726 to The Hague, where it remained until dispersed at auction in 1779. The plates include two views of the museum (the frontispiece showing its original Amsterdam gallery, the double-page plate showing the hall at Haarlem), as well as illustrations of the various cabinets of specimens. De Hooghe appears not only as an artist, but also, unusually, as an author in this work: volume I includes his lengthy explanation of the frontispiece, as well as a Latin poem he wrote to Vincent. Nissen ZBI 4254; Landwehr Romeyn de Hooghe 105.
2 volumes in 1, 4° (235 x 182mm.). Engraved frontispiece by J. v. Viane after Romeyn de Hooghe, title with engraved vignette, double-page engraved plate by A. van Buysen, title to volume II, 7 folding engraved plates. (Occasional very light spotting to volume I.) Contemporary Dutch calf, gilt (corners a little rubbed).
FIRST EDITION of both parts of the catalogue of the natural-history collection of the Dutch merchant, Levinus Vincent. It was one of the most famous wunderkammern of its age, and was visited by foreign monarchs including Charles III of Spain and Peter the Great of Russia. The collection was started in 1674 by Vincent's brother-in-law, Anthony Breda, and was moved from Amsterdam to Haarlem in 1705 and in 1726 to The Hague, where it remained until dispersed at auction in 1779. The plates include two views of the museum (the frontispiece showing its original Amsterdam gallery, the double-page plate showing the hall at Haarlem), as well as illustrations of the various cabinets of specimens. De Hooghe appears not only as an artist, but also, unusually, as an author in this work: volume I includes his lengthy explanation of the frontispiece, as well as a Latin poem he wrote to Vincent. Nissen ZBI 4254; Landwehr Romeyn de Hooghe 105.