An exceptionally rare first edition of a book focusing on the subjects of witchcraft, sorcery, demonology, and black magic. The author passionately expresses his dissatisfaction with the brutalities inflicted upon individuals accused of being witches, using vivid and disturbing illustrations as evidence. Notably, the book features a captivating woodcut title vignette, depicting a witch's daring escape through a chimney. In the image, her legs hang from the opening inside the house, while she simultaneously rises on her broom outside the chimney, creating a striking visual effect. Abraham Palingh is a somewhat elusive figure in Early Modern Dutch literature and his book provides a fascinating insight into the attitudes of an educated man toward witchcraft. He claims that his 't Afgerukt Mom-aansight Der Tooverye is based on firsthand accounts. Information regarding the occurrence of harmful sorcery and attitudes towards sorcery in Amsterdam and Haarlem has been documented from the initial witchcraft trials to the point where such crimes were no longer a concern for the judiciary. Between 1542 and 1566, trials for harmful sorcery took place in Amsterdam, while Haarlem witnessed similar trials in 1549. Historical accounts of both cities, as well as Jacobus Scheltema's History of Witch Trials (published in Haarlem in 1828), make mention of sorcery trials in Amsterdam. However, these references often provide only superficial details, despite the potential for valuable insights found in the actual procedural documents. Conversely, little information about witchcraft in Haarlem can be gleaned from existing literature. Abraham Palingh, author of 't Afrukt Mom-aansight der Tooverye (published in Haarlem in 1659), briefly mentions a few cases of sorcery accusations that he claims to have personally known, yet his accounts remain vague.
The fine and copperplate illustrations were made by Salomon Savry (1594-1683). He was a recognised engraver of his time, highly involved with the Amsterdam book industry of the seventeenth century.
Some wear to binding. Ex libris from the library of Leontine Buijnsters-Smets. Light browning and foxing. Otherwise in very good condition. Bibl. Med. Neerl. I, p.150; Muller 539 (1725 edition); Scheepers I, 552; STCN 841091951 (12 copies); Waller 1315 (1725 edition); WorldCat 56854247 (3 copies).