Rare first and only edition of a devotional and educational work written by Petrus Croon (1634-1682), a regular canon and literary author from Louvain, Belgium. The work was intended to serve as a gift for the new year, and contains emblematic poetry about candles, candlesticks, candle stands, candle-snuffers, and all things to do with candles, traditionally lit on New Year's Eve. The emblematic verses and songs are interwoven with explanatory text in prose. At the end a new song called "domp-horentje" (little candle-snuffer) is set to music and accompanied by printed musical notation. The charming little book proves that the text of emblematic verse can invoke images so well that no pictures are needed and without engravings the New Year's gift would be less expensive for young people. As a convinced Roman-Catholic, Croon wanted to educate and edify his readers by way of amusing verse, emblems, riddles, proverbs, and songs.
With the bookplate of V. de La Montagne on the front pastedown, a (near) contemporary manuscript inscription on the otherwise blank verso of the "approbatie" ("Deesen boeck is tot behoo..? van"), and Jan Borms' two owner's stamps on the last flyleaf (black: "Verzameling Jan Borms"; green: "Kunstbezit BORMS Cat no (in pencil:) 2. 2. 21"). The edges of the boards show minor signs of wear, only slightly browned, with a very small restoration on the lower outer corner of pp. 63-64. Otherwise in very good condition. BNCI 12057; Scheurleer, Liedboeken, p. 74; STCV 3218795 (3 copies); WorldCat 1089657767 (4 copies).