First edition (first issue), in the original Latin, of a history of Batavia, the Latin name for the Low Countries, though the subtitle here restricts it to the northern territories that belonged to the young Dutch Republic: the Betuwe, Holland, Zeeland, Friesland, Utrecht (province) and Gelderland. It contains works by several different authors, opening with a brief letter by the compiler, the Dutch historian Petrus Scriverius (1576-1660), who wrote several historical works on the Low Countries. The first section is a history of Batavia, containing two works by Gerardus Noviomagus, also known as Gerardus Geldenhouwer (1482-1542). Next come two treatises dealing with the origin of the Batavians and other matters, written by Cornelius Aurelius (ca. 1460-1531), best known for his Divisiekroniek. It is followed by some letters by various authors, including one by Desiderius Erasmus, and some texts by Adrianus Barlandus (1486-1538). Also included is a list of important rulers of the Low Countries, with many woodcut portraits. The book closes with Henrik Aquilius's Compendium chronici Gelriae, providing a history of Gelderland and including geographic notes by Ortelius.
Copy from the Duke de La Force. Text-leaves with occasional small black spots, otherwise in good condition. Binding worn along the extremities, spine damaged, especially at the head and foot, front hinge cracked. Haitsma Mulier & V.d. Lem 436b; Rahir 39; STCN 190152141; Willems 57.