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Copy from the library of the Dukes of Saxony and Brandenburg

GUICCIARDINI, Lodovico.
Omnium Belgii, sive Inferioris Germaniae, regionum descriptio. Recens ex idiomate Italico, ad exemplar tertium ac postremum ab ipso auctore recognitum, magnaque passim accessione locupletatum, in Latinum sermonem conversa. Regnero Vitellio Zirizaeo interprete ... Adjectisque, supplendo & illustrando Guicciardino, nonnullis additamentis.

Full-page engraved plate with the coats-of-arms of the XVII Provinces of the Dutch Republic on *6v (16 in a richly decorated border surrounding the coat-of-arms of Brabant proudly in the centre), 67 double-page maps and plans, 17 double-page views, 11 full-page maps and plans (numbered 1-100: 1-41, (42-44 not numb.), 45, (46 not included), 46-60, (61 missing as in most copies), 62, 63 (here not num.), 64-83, 84 (here not numb.), 85, 86-91: 6 plans on 3 leaves, 92-95, 96-97: 2 plans on one leaf, 98-100; woodcut printer's device on title and colophon, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials.

Full-page engraved plate with the coats-of-arms of the XVII Provinces of the Dutch Republic on *6v (16 in a richly decorated border surrounding the coat-of-arms of Brabant proudly in the centre), 67 double-page maps and plans, 17 double-page views, 11 full-page maps and plans (numbered 1-100: 1-41, (42-44 not numb.), 45, (46 not included), 46-60, (61 missing as in most copies), 62, 63 (here not num.), 64-83, 84 (here not numb.), 85, 86-91: 6 plans on 3 leaves, 92-95, 96-97: 2 plans on one leaf, 98-100; woodcut printer's device on title and colophon, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials.

Full-page engraved plate with the coats-of-arms of the XVII Provinces of the Dutch Republic on *6v (16 in a richly decorated border surrounding the coat-of-arms of Brabant proudly in the centre), 67 double-page maps and plans, 17 double-page views, 11 full-page maps and plans (numbered 1-100: 1-41, (42-44 not numb.), 45, (46 not included), 46-60, (61 missing as in most copies), 62, 63 (here not num.), 64-83, 84 (here not numb.), 85, 86-91: 6 plans on 3 leaves, 92-95, 96-97: 2 plans on one leaf, 98-100; woodcut printer's device on title and colophon, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials.

Full-page engraved plate with the coats-of-arms of the XVII Provinces of the Dutch Republic on *6v (16 in a richly decorated border surrounding the coat-of-arms of Brabant proudly in the centre), 67 double-page maps and plans, 17 double-page views, 11 full-page maps and plans (numbered 1-100: 1-41, (42-44 not numb.), 45, (46 not included), 46-60, (61 missing as in most copies), 62, 63 (here not num.), 64-83, 84 (here not numb.), 85, 86-91: 6 plans on 3 leaves, 92-95, 96-97: 2 plans on one leaf, 98-100; woodcut printer's device on title and colophon, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials.

Full-page engraved plate with the coats-of-arms of the XVII Provinces of the Dutch Republic on *6v (16 in a richly decorated border surrounding the coat-of-arms of Brabant proudly in the centre), 67 double-page maps and plans, 17 double-page views, 11 full-page maps and plans (numbered 1-100: 1-41, (42-44 not numb.), 45, (46 not included), 46-60, (61 missing as in most copies), 62, 63 (here not num.), 64-83, 84 (here not numb.), 85, 86-91: 6 plans on 3 leaves, 92-95, 96-97: 2 plans on one leaf, 98-100; woodcut printer's device on title and colophon, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials.



Amsterdam, Guiljelmus Ianssonius (Willem Jansz. Blaeu), 1613. Folio. Contemporary richly blind tooled pigskin over boards, ribbed spine with title written in ink in three compartments, three decorative and floral borders on sides surrounding a central panel with the coats-of-arms of August, duke of Saxony on the front, and of Johann Georg, duke of Brandenburg on the back cover, above the arms on the front cover is stamped and painted black: 'M C D O' (?), and beneath the arms the binding is dated: '1617'; remains of ties. Full-page engraved plate with the coats-of-arms of the XVII Provinces of the Dutch Republic on *6v (16 in a richly decorated border surrounding the coat-of-arms of Brabant proudly in the centre), 67 double-page maps and plans, 17 double-page views, 11 full-page maps and plans (numbered 1-100: 1-41, (42-44 not numb.), 45, (46 not included), 46-60, (61 missing as in most copies), 62, 63 (here not num.), 64-83, 84 (here not numb.), 85, 86-91: 6 plans on 3 leaves, 92-95, 96-97: 2 plans on one leaf, 98-100; woodcut printer's device on title and colophon, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials. (12), 315, (12, 1 blank) pp. [Collation: *6, A-2C6, 2D-E4].

First Latin edition (second ed. Amsterdam, J. Janssonius 1616) of one of the most important books published on the Low Countries in the 16th century: the first detailed description of the principalities and cities of the region, by Ludovico Guicciardini, which assured the author instant fame. It was in fact at the same time the first traveller's guide of the Netherlands and became immediately popular, with over fifty editions in the sixteenth and seventeenth century alone.
The text is translated from the Italian Plantijn edition of 1588 by Reinier Telle from Zierikzee (1578-1618), who also added some historical notes to the work. The description of Gouda, which appears for the first time in this edition, is according to Boele van Hensbroek by the rector from Gouda, Traudenius.
The plates in this edition are the same as those in Blaeu's Dutch edition of 1612. The only difference is that they are now numbered, except for four: The first map of the Netherlands, the Old, and New churches in Amsterdam, and the Amsterdam Town Hall and weighing house (on one plate). The mostly lacking unnumbered plate of the Middelburg Town Hall is not present here. After this Latin translation Blaeu haven't published any other folio editions of this work. In 1634, he was the first to publish a duodecimo edition. The copperplates used by Blaeu came in the possession of Johannes Janssonius, who used them from 1624 onwards for some of his editions and translations of Guicciardini's Descrittione.
A facsimile edition was published in 1968.

Guicciardini's work was published in Italian, French, Dutch, Latin, German and English. The illustrations in the numerous editions greatly vary, and were often renewed or replaced. The book is divided into sections, each devoted to a particular region. It really is a sophisticated traveller's guide, with emphasis on the topography of the various regions and the major cities, which are beautifully illustrated by engraved plans and views. But the book fully covers all aspects of contemporary life in each area as well, including extensive treatment of the fine arts, trade and the commercial concerns of each region. As the work still is a very important source for the study of early Dutch history and daily life, it is studied and republished until this very day.

Our edition is dedicated to the States of Holland and Zeeland by the translator and dated Amsterdam, 3 August 1613. There are Latin laudatory poems by Nicolaus Grudius (a brother of Janus Secundus), Gaspar Schetus, Justus Lipsius, and Joan. Latius, and two poem in Italian. 

Ludovico Guicciardini (Florence 1521 - Antwerp 1589), a was an Italian businessman and author. He left Italy for Lyons in 1538 and shortly afterwards he settles down in Antwerp where, together with his brother Giovan-Battista, he started dealing in cloth, goldthread and similar commodities. As one of the many Italians in Antwerp who tried to make a living, Guicciardini would have remained unknown if he had not published in 1567 his 'Description of the Whole Netherlands'.

Our copy has an extraordinary provenance: it is bound in its original typical German contemporary blind-tooled pigskin binding, dated '1617', for the ducal Library of the Dukes of Saxony/Brandenburg. The caption underneath the coat-of-arms on the front cover reads: 'V.G.G. AUGUST HERZOG ZU SAXEN'; the caption on the back cover: 'V.G.G. JOHAN GEORG HERZOG ZU BRANDE(NBURG)'. As there are no contemporary Dukes of Saxony or Brandenburg with these names, we assume that our copy has been purchased and bound for the Ducal library which is founded by Churfürst August of Saxony (1553-1586; the 'Kurfürstliche crossed swords' are added to his coat-of-arms) and Churfürst Johann Georg of Brandenburg (the 'Oeconomist'; 1525-1598), probably shortly after the marriage in 1582 of August's son Christian I, Churfürst of Saxony (1560-1591) and Johann Georg's daughter Sophie of Brandenburg (1568-1622). The two sons of Christian and Sophie were (1) Johann Georg I of Saxony (1585-1656) and (2) August, Herzog of Saxony-Weissenfels (1614-1680).
On the title is an ownership's entry of the Carmelite monastery in Vienna.

Good complete copy bound in unique contemporary blind tooled pigskin.- (Text browned, only without the mostly lacking unnumbered plate of the Town Hall of Middelburg).
Deys, Guicciardini illustratus, 12; Tiele, Bibl. 427; Boele van Hensbroek 1877, no. XII; Touwaide 1974, no. 15.

Related Subjects: 17th Century  Dutch  Latin  Topography 

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