PHAEDRUS.
Fabularum Aesopiarum, libri V. Notis illustravit in usum serenissimi Principis Nassauii, David Hoogstratanus. Accedunt ejusdem opera duo indices, quorum prior est omnium verborum, multo quam antehac locupletior, posterior eorum, quae observatu digna in notis occurrunt.
Amsterdam, Fr. Halma, 1701. 4to. With richly engraved allegorical frontispiece with medallion portrait of the Prince of Nassau at the top, by P. Bouttats after J. Goeree, engraved allegorical vignette on title, title printed in red and black, large folding double-page engraved portrait of the young Prince Jan Willem Friso of Nassau by P. Gunst after B. Vaillant, 5 engraved head-pieces, 8 large engraved initials, 30 richly engraved tail-pieces, and 108 medallion illustrations to the fables on 18 full-page engraved plates by J. van Vianen. Contemporary full-grained red morocco, spine ribbed and richly gilt, with triple gilt fillet borders on sides, gilt inner dentelles, and gilt edges. [32], 160, [84] pp.
€ 4,500
Splendid edition of Phaedrus's fables, prepared by David van Hoogstraten (1658-1724) especially for the education of the young Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Nassau (1687-1711). Van Hoogstraten had first published his edition in 1699 as a small octavo school book without illustrations. For the present edition, issued only two years later, the work was transformed into a large quarto, with a dedication and large portrait of the young prince and abundant illustrations throughout. The present copy is moreover richly bound in red morocco.
The edition retains the "Life of Phaedrus" by Johan Scheffer of Strasbourg, the "Age of Phaedrus" by Gerard Vossius, and Van Hoogstraten's extensive notes to each of the 94 fables. It also includes two indexes, the first, an index of all words, considerably enlarged from the earlier edition, and the second covering noteworthy matters discussed in the notes. For the present edition, the fables were beautifully illustrated with fine medallion designs, six to a plate, especially drawn and engraved by Jan van Vianen (ca. 1660-1726). They vividly depict the action of the fables, often with a second scene taking place in the background, all engraved with a strong contrast between light and dark that requires no colouring.
With the bookplates of Guillaume Claude, Comte de Laleu (Olivier 1895), and Frank Linsly James, from Beckford, and with the book-label of Viscount Mersey, Bignor Park. Otherwise in very good condition. Cohen-De Ricci 797; Fabula Docet 42; Landwehr, Emblem & Fable Books, F163; Stevenson Hobbs, Fables, p. 11; The Fox and the Grapes, Checklist Aesopic Fables Pierpont Morgan Library, 1701; not in USTC.
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