First edition of a rare Dutch songbook with songs for farmer's festivals, all with musical annotation. The work has been beautifully illustrated with etchings after the famous Dutch painter of country life, Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685). The fine etchings, newly made and in reverse, present an exemplary survey of Van Ostade's work, showing busts of peasants, women on their way to the market carrying baskets, farmers smoking, merry parties dancing in front of the farm, a knife-grinder, a schoolmaster, etc. Together they give a lively impression of country life.
The work was published anonymously, but has been attributed to either Jan van Gijsen (1668-1722) or Aäron van Hulkenroy (1687-1733). Van Gijsen was a popular author who wrote a large number of occasional poems. His collected works were published at Amsterdam, in three volumes in 1707-1711, but the present selection was probably published only once, partly with the address of the Widow of Van Hulkenroy and partly with the address of J. van Egmont, who had also published the collected works. Aäron van Hulkenroy was the son of publisher Hermanus van Hulkenroy, and took over the publishing company after both his parents had passed. He was also a poet, who wrote various poetry collections, which were always published by his mother, or later, himself. The present work has been attributed to him because the very first poem, on the verso of the half title, is signed with his initials.
The boards and spine are rubbed, with some loss of material at the lower outer corner of the front board. The leaves and plates are somewhat foxed, a small tear in the margin of first folding plate has been repaired on the back. Otherwise in good condition. Goovaerts 1011; Cat. Muziekhist. Museum Scheurleer II, p. 92; Scheepers I, 284 ("Hoogst zeldzaam"); Scheurleer, Liedboeken, 199 (lists both 1716-issues); STCN 154032301; cf. Hollstein XV, pp. 1-70 (for the etchings); NNBW 8, col. 648 (Gijsen) and NNBW 4, col. 790 (Hulkenroy); not in Arents, Tobacco.