Lot 1408
JACOB DE GHEYN II (1565-1929)
THE EXERCISE OF ARMS (`WAPENHANDELINGE VAN ROEN MUSQUETTEN ENDE SPIESSEN...`)
Engravings, 49 from the set of 117, richly coloured and illuminated in gold and silver, evidently from a very early presentation copy before the first publication in 1608, good impressions, manuscript numbers (prior to engraving), polishing scratches apparent, each plate trimmed to edge of brick red border, some damp stained but most very fresh, one badly damaged with substantial losses, some with creases, stains and small losses at corners etc
Slight variations in size, most sheets 26 x 19cm approx. (49, all unframed)
* This is believed to be one of only three presentation copies, although there is no historical provenance to link the group with any identifiable 17th Century owner. The unusual English inscriptions in ink (on 22 of the 49 plates) suggest that the set came to this country in the first few years of the 17th Century and it is possible that some are in scarce intermediate states. It is known that Prince Maurice of Nassau (1567-1625) commissioned a few presentation sets and it is probable that this group found its way to a recipient in England from a diplomat in the Dutch court. Thirty two of the plates from the original group of 81 were offered at auction by Sothebys in London and Amsterdam in 1987 and 1990.
