Remarkable notebook from the Rotterdam chamber of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), with 6 leaves specifically coated for use with the included stylus, so the writing could be easily removed. These notebooks were commissioned by the chambers of Delft and Rotterdam in the mid to late 18th century as gifts for friends and relations of the directors. "As far as the eighteenth century is concerned there seem to have been only two kinds of books that were covered in sharkskin bindings: almanacs and Bibles. In the case of the almanacs, as far as we know these were always rather luxurious gifts from city or national governments, from the Regional Water Board or from a chamber of the VOC, Dutch East india Company. Most of the gifts seem to have been of a more or less official character; a few may have been gifts within the private sphere. Generally the books will have been given away as a New Years gift (some of the VOC bindings did not contain almanacs but books of blank pages for taking notes), ..." (Storm van Leeuwen p. 1221). Although between 8 and 12 copies were made each year during this time, few have survived. The Rotterdam version appears to be the most rare, as we have not been able to trace another copy on the market.
A few notes in the present notebook are legible and refer to business transactions "den 29 Novb. in den goudbeurs 29 Ducaten ..." or detail which psalms to read on the occasions of the confirmation and farewell of certain pastors (dated at the head of the page "1785"). Thus, the binding and notebook must have been manufactured and gifted before 1785.
While the silverwork on the boards of the book is not visibly marked and thus cannot trace the exact manufacturer, we do know by whom the silverwork for these bindings was produced during the 1770s-80s from other sources. From 1777-1784 it was made by Johann Georg Holtzhey (1729-1808), a mint master from Amsterdam, and supplied to the company of silversmith Dirck van Hengel (active 1728-1776), who likely attached it to the book. The design of the silver is typical for the VOC, as similar designs were also used as printer's devices on VOC publications.
With writing and (children's) drawings throughout. The leaves are bumped on the fore edge from the fastenings, the silk on the bottom of the back pocket has torn. Otherwise in good condition. Landwehr, p. XXVII; Storm van Leeuwen vol. IIB, p. 1209, 1221-1223.