Beschrijving
Amsterdam, Pieter Mortier, 1690. Full leather binding with blind tooling and ribbed spine. 4to., [50] (waarvan genummerd: 36)+364+40+[16] pp., the leather is somewhat worn, especially along the hinges of the spine with some cracks and scratches, the paper in the first (blank) and last signature (index) also shows some wear and tear. Both the leather and these pages show some repairs. Besides these signs of wear and tear the book is in good condition with a solid construction and the original headbands intact. The book opens beautifully and is a joy to leaf through. Illustrated with nummerous engravings of coins and medals throughout the book, some printed on the textpages, some outside the collation. The last part has a seperate titlepage: ‘Nederlands Helden-tooneel vertoonende zeer cierlijk in koper gesneeden alle de grafsteden, opgerecht ter eere der dappere mannen, welke hun leven ten dienste des Vaderlands opgeofferd hebben: Met byvoeging van der zelver beschrijving, en Latijnsche en Nederduitsche grafschriften, ter vereeuwing van hun gedachtenis gesteld’. This part is illustrated with engravings of various tombs and preceeding it, there are two engraved portraits depicting Wilhemus Henricus and Maria Stuart.
The front endpapers show some endearing user marks. It seems that a small collection of coins has at one point been kept between the pages, only the markings remain. There is also a dedication in ink which reads: ‘Aan Mr. W.W. van Haersma Buma Burgemeester van Oost-Dongeradeel. Uit waardering aangeboden door Y.H. Vellinga Mr. Smid te Metslawier. Metslawier 2 November 1903.’ Wiardus Willem van Haersma Buma (1868-1927) was a Dutch lawyer and mayor. He was offered this book by a master blacksmith, as a token of appreciation.
