< Back

The Dutch classic against witchcraft and devilry, with a portrait of the author

BEKKER, Balthasar.
De betoverde weereld, zynde een ondersoek van 't gemeen gevoelen aangaande de geesten, deselver aart en vermogen, bewind en bedrijf; als ook 't gene de menschen door derselver kraght en gemeenschap doen.

Woodcut printer's devices on all 4 title-pages, nearly full-page woodcut in part 4. With a mezzotint portrait of the author by Pieter Schenk.

Woodcut printer's devices on all 4 title-pages, nearly full-page woodcut in part 4. With a mezzotint portrait of the author by Pieter Schenk.

Woodcut printer's devices on all 4 title-pages, nearly full-page woodcut in part 4. With a mezzotint portrait of the author by Pieter Schenk.

Woodcut printer's devices on all 4 title-pages, nearly full-page woodcut in part 4. With a mezzotint portrait of the author by Pieter Schenk.



Amsterdam, Daniel van den Dalen, 1691-93. 4 parts in one vol. 4to. Contemporary vellum, title in ink on spine. Woodcut printer's devices on all 4 title-pages, nearly full-page woodcut in part 4. With a mezzotint portrait of the author by Pieter Schenk. (20), 813 [= 138], (2); (8), 262, (2); (8), 32, 188, (4); (6), 1-224, 217-224, 217-224, 225-277, (3) pp.

Original edition, with the autograph signature of the author in all four parts, of Bekker's most important and influential work against popular belief in demons, witchcraft, sorcery, black magic and devilry. Bekker dedicated his book to his brothers-in-law, the Franeker Prof. Bernardus and Franciscus Fullenius, Mayor of Franeker, and added a poem to his wife Frouke Fullenius. The work proved a great commercial success and was immediately translated into German, French and English. The author, however, was accused of heterodoxy, and disapproval of his opinions was voiced in hundreds of pamphlets, which subsequently led to his removal from his office in 1692. Part 3 of the present copy includes Naakte uitbeeldinge, a 32-page summary of De betoverde weereld, which can also be found separately.

Fine copy.- (Portrait mounted and sl. cut short, some browning).
Caillet 915 (French ed.); Coumont, Demonology and witchcraft, B40.2; Crowe, Catalogue of the Cornell witchcraft collection. p. 41; Van der Linde 16, 17, 19, 20; Thorndike VIII, p. 583; Hollstein  XXV, p. 117, nr. 503I (Schenk); cf. Knuttel, B.B. de bestrijder van het bijgeloof (The Hague 1906).

Related Subjects: 17th Century  Demonology  Religion  Superstition  Witchcraft 

Add to Shopping cart
€ 1.950,00

Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.

< Back

Terms of sale

All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included. 

Free shipping for orders over € 2,500.  EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.

Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale

E-mail this to a friend







This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots. (see: www.captcha.net)

Type the characters that you see in the box (5 characters). The code can include characters 0..9 and A..F.*

  


Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com