The first edition including the second part ("The bank of exchange explained") of the "Unfailing rule of profit without loss" by Caspar Luyken the elder (ca. 1607- ca. 1667), school teacher and father of Jan Luyken, who would become famous for his beautiful emblem books, and grandfather of Caspar Luyken the younger. The nominally monetary and financial subject of both parts is largely metaphorical, Luyken using the themes to promote charity, benevolence and love of one's fellow human being. The second part is built around quotations from the Bible.
The true third edition may have been unauthorized, published by Dominicus Jansz. de Gaver at Haarlem in 1656, without naming the printer and copying the second editions spelling of the authors name "Luken". The present 1663 edition, published by the authors eldest son (Jans older brother) also calls itself the third, suggesting they did not wish to acknowledge the 1656 edition. All early editions are extremely rare, the STCN recording only 2 copies of the second and only 1 copy each of the first, third and the present fourth.Fine copy. STCN (1 copy); Van Eeghen & Van der Kellen I, pp. XII-XIII note; cf. Klaversma & Hannema 901 (1656 ed.) & 902 (1685 ed., noting that the foreword of De Wissel-banck geopent is dated 1663); not in Hoock & Jeannin; Kress.