Van der Borcht Emblemata Sacra 1653

Emblemata Sacra, e praecipius utriusque . Petro vander Burgio . Johanne Philippi Schabaelie, anno 1653 By Hendrik Jansen Barrefelt (called Hiel). [N.pl.]: Iohanne Phlippi Schabaelie. 4to: Oblong. [25 sheets text], [100 plates] pp. Half leather in slipcase. 19th century half morocco over marbled boards. Gilt titling and five raised bands to the spine. In full leather slipcase with gilt titling to the front. Both text and plates printed to one side of the sheet only.Engraved title and 100 engravings by van der Borcht, text. The rare Barrefeldt illustrated Bible of the religious group: Second House of Love. Originally published by Christopher Plantin in 1581. The spiritual ideas of Heil were expressed in the fine series of engravings designed by Pieter van der Borcht. The plates inspired the remonstrants and liberal protestants of the Dutch Republic like Michel Colin (i.e. Michiel Colijn) who was born in Antwerp and settled in Amsterdam as a publisher and bookseller in 1608. A smaller version of the Bible was first printed by Colin in Dutch in 1613. Colin published several verions of this work,in varying formats and plates. The verses were done by Petrus Sellius of Nijmegen. Later an edition was published by Claes Jansz. Visscher. In 1653 the van der Borcht engravings were incorporated in a print bible by Johanne Philippi Schabaelie: 'Den Grooten Emblemata Sacra', which contained over 300 engravings. But it is known that bibles were also printed to order. This specific edition contains the 100 engravings by van der Borcht, the title page and text pages. The binding is later 19th c. morocco. The book appears to have existed as such by 1700, because an engraved Ex Libris of Petri Ludovici Danes, rector of the University of Leuven is present in front of the book. A note of 'Erven Mr. Ch. Enschedé is present as well which indicates this bible belonged to the Enschedé publisher family as well. Izaak Enschedé published an edition of the Hiel bible containing smaller oblong versions of the plates for his 'Bybelsche Figuren . ' in 1717. Perhaps this specific bible was owned by Izaak Enschedé at the time and used as example for the plates. As a result of the persecution of these religious groups, not only in the Catholic Southern Netherlands but eventually also in the Dutch Republic copies of all editions of Hiel's and Pieter van der Borcht's print-bibles are extremely rare, especially in such fine condition.…