Rare and Old Books from the Antiquariaat Forum
Antiquariaat Forum's brochure from the ILAB Book Fair in New York.
By Michael Stillman
The Antiquariaat Forum of Utrecht, The Netherlands, has issued a pamphlet of books in conjunction with their recent appearance at the ILAB Antiquarian Book Fair in New York. What you will find here is both rare and old, generally 16th-19th century, and published in Europe, though several countries and languages are represented. Naturally, an Antiquariaat Forum catalogue will have its share of Dutch titles, but this list is more evenly spread across the continent. Americana collectors will also find many items of interest here. Several of these books fall into the category of the earliest books within the Americana field, that is, European Americana. While the ILAB show in New York has now passed, these books are timeless. Here are a few from this pamphlet.
Item 13 is a rare and important collection of Dutch voyages published in 1646. Edited by Isaac Commelin, it comes with the very Dutch title of Begin ende voortgangh, van de Vereenighde Nederlantsche Geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie. Don't be fooled into thinking this is important only to the Netherlands. The trips may have started in Holland, but they went all around the world. It includes many voyages to the cold North, East Indies, and even the Americas. Often, this book was the first report of the travels. There are 21 voyages in all, 12 reported for the first time. Price available on request.
Another rare Dutch voyage offered is Journael oft daghelijcx-register van de Voyagie na Rio de Plata by H. Ottsen. Please don't ask me to pronounce "daghelijcx." This is the first edition of a voyage to South America, which took place in 1598-1601. The book was published in 1603. The author was the captain of one of the two ships that made the trip. Item 39. Price on request.
Item 9 is one of the most important early botanical works published, Herbarum vivae eicones ad naturae imitationem. Author Otto Brunfels describes some 230 species of plants, including 40 which were identified for the first time. Brunfels has been described as the first great botanist, and this book as the first to contain realistic and accurate illustrations. Many of the woodcut illustrations were created by Hans Weiditz. This copy includes the three parts from printings of 1532-36 bound in one volume. $35,480.
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Rare and Old Books from the Antiquariaat Forum
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Item 47 is a major ichthyology, or fish book for those not familiar with the term. Entitled Aquatilium animalium historiae liber primus, this work was created by Ippolito Salviani in the 16th century. Illustrations came from specimens found in the Roman fish market, along with images from other countries obtained by Salviani's sponsor, Cardinal Marcello Cervini. Cervini's untimely death delayed publication of this work, so it contains a number of dates, starting with 1554. Salviani's work is considered one of the best on its subject from the 16th century. Priced at $37,250.
Alphonse Pinart was a Frenchman who visited the American West in the 1870s. Mostly he concentrated on the far northern territory, though he undertook a trip to Arizona as well. Item 44 is one of his earliest works, Catalogue des collections rapportees de l'Amerique Russe. It is a study of various man-made or related objects, such as harpoons, masks, lamps, bags, and skulls, found in what was then Russian America. However, by the time the book was published in 1872, Alaska was no longer Russian territory, so the title notes that it is now the Territory of Alaska. Most of the Alaskan artifacts described in this book were collected on Kodiak Island. $3,550.
The Antiquariaat Forum may be found online at www.forumrarebooks.com, telephone +31 (0)30 6011955.
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