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Biography of the great Dutch naval hero Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. Large paper copy of the first edition

BRANDT, Geeraert.
Het leven en bedryf van den heere Michiel de Ruiter.
Amsterdam, for Wolfgang, Waesberge, Boom, van Someren and Goethals, 1687 (engraved title-page: printed by Pieter and Joan Blaeu, 1686). Folio (34.5 x 22.5 cm). With engraved title-page, engraved portrait of De Ruyter, 7 engraved double-page plates by Sebastiaen Stoopendaal and 1 engraved plate by Joseph Mulder. Late 18th-century calf, gold-tooled spine. [10], "1063" [=1065], [23] pp.
€ 3,750
Large paper copy of the first edition, in the original Dutch, of the standard biography of the great Dutch naval hero Admiral Michiel Adriaansz. de Ruyter (1607-1676), who scored several major victories against the French and English, the best known abroad being the Raid on Chatham, one of the worst defeats of the British Royal Navy. For the present work Brandt used numerous original documents from De Ruyter's son and other private individuals, as well as from official government sources. "This resulted in a book that was not only based on good information, but through his exalted, lucid and engaging style also became a true folk-book in the best sense of the word" (NNBW).
De Ruyter fought the English off the coast of West Africa, the Caribbean, temporarily took St John's, New Foundland, and even considered retaking New York.
While the binding is somewhat scuffed along the spine, the book itself is in very good condition, with only an occasional spot. Alden & Landis 687/21; Cat. NHSM, p. 843; Sabin 7405; for the author: NNBW VI, cols. 184-187.
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Book history, education, learning & printing  >  Bibliography & Biography
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Maritime history  >  Naval History