4 volumes. [28], 1006, 187, [1]; [6], 994, [6], 127, [1]; [6], 895, [7], 27, [1]; [6], 691, [5], 14, 16, [183] pp. With added engraved title-page in each volume; portrait of the author in each volume; 37 other engraved portraits; & 39 double-page copper-engraved plates. (folio) 41.4x23.5 cm. (16½x9¼), period full mottled calf, spines tooled in gilt, raised bands. Second Edition.
Massive and highly important history of the Netherlands, concentrating on wars and other conflicts, with a superb array of engraved plates including double-page views of battles, bird’s-eye views of ports and forts, whaling in the arctic, executions of malefactors, and more, plus portraits of nobles and notables. Pieter Christiaensz Bor's (1559-1635) approach was scholarly, and since he used state-papers, private documents, letters, etc., his work is one of the best and richest sources for the period. This second edition is considered the best. The superb engraved plates by J. Luyken, C. Decker and G. v.d. Gouwen have crisp and clean impressions, and the most notable of which is likely the famous stranded whale engraving by G. van der Gouwen (Ingalls, Whaling prints no. 359; Kendall Whaling Museum no. 530). Van Eeghen van der Kellen 9; Van Someren I, 41.
Condition:
Just minor cover wear, joints tender or cracking; some minor marginal worming in Vol. I, with light dampstaining in some of the top margins in that volume, Vol. IV with dampstains to lower margins of first few leaves and top margins of latter leaves (at times intruding into text; overall in fine condition, contents clean overall, rarely found so nice.