HISTORISCH VERHAEL ALDER GHEDENCH-WEERDICHSTE GESCHIEDENISSEN DIE HIER EN DAER IN EUROPA.

Wassenaer, Nicholaes van

Published by Amsterdam, 1635

Twenty-one parts bound in seven volumes. Engraved titlepages, some engravings in text. Small quarto. First volume in modern vellum, matching the other six in old vellum. First titlepage in first volume trimmed at bottom, slightly affecting imprint. A fine, clean set. [with:] HOLLANTZE MERCURIUS. Haarlem. 1665-1670. Six parts bound in one volume. Contemporary blindstamped vellum. Spine partially detached, otherwise very good. This important Dutch newsletter contains a wealth of information concerning Dutch activities overseas, including in New Netherland, raids in the Caribbean, the Dutch venture in Brazil, the slave trade with Africa, and the activities of the Dutch in the Far East and Asia. The title, translated literally, means "Historical Account of all the most Remarkable Events which have happened in Europe." It is indeed an important early European newsletter, but substantial parts of each number are concerned with the Dutch overseas empire in its heyday. The newsletter was conceived and written by Nicholaes van Wassenaer, who issued the first number in 1622 and produced the first seventeen numbers biannually until his death in 1630. Barent Lampe then took over the publication and issued the second number in 1630; but publication sputtered, and the three final numbers appeared in 1632, 1633, and 1635. The parts have generally been treated as a set by bibliographers, but EUROPEAN AMERICANA is certainly correct in stating that each individual number has integrity of its own, with separate title and pagination, and goes on to list each of the twenty-one numbers separately. Complete sets are, not surprisingly, of the greatest rarity. Even individual numbers surface only occasionally. The New Netherland segment of Wassenaer is extensive and is best understood from the excerpts offered in the NARRATIVES OF NEW NETHERLAND, edited by J. Franklin Jameson (see pp.67-96), a copy of which accompanies this collection. These provide detailed news reports of the settlement in its earliest days, accounts of the surrounding country, and such important documents as the Privileges and Exceptions granted to the settlers by the West India Company. The various narratives constitute some of the best early accounts of New York, and according to Vail, Part XII contains "the earliest printed account of the settlement of Manhattan island in 1626." Later parts contain unique information of outstanding importance for the early history of New Netherland. Material relating to the West Indies is also scattered throughout the newsletters, with virtually every issue containing reports of Dutch attacks on the Spanish silver fleet in 1628. Borba de Moraes says of the Brazilian material in the collection: ".This well- known and valued collection is an essential source of information about the history of the Dutch in Brazil." It includes news about the situation in Brazil, the taking of Bahia and festivals celebrating it in Holland, fights with the Spanish and Portuguese fleets, and many other details listed by Borba de Moraes. The African and East Indian news is no less interesting, with extensive accounts of the Dutch activities in trade and war from the West Coast of Africa to the Spice Islands and the trade in Asia. Some of the engraved titles are of American interest: that of Part V depicts L'Hermite's naval action against the Spanish, that of Part VI shows the West Indian fleet, that of Part XIV shows Pieter Heyn's naval action off Bahia, that of Part XV shows the Dutch attack on Honduras and the naval fight there, that of Part XVII depicts the seizure of the Spanish silver fleet by Pieter Heyn's fleet, that of Part XVIII illustrates the town of Pernambuco, and that of Part XX shows naval action in the West Indies. The HOLLANTZE MERCURIUS. contains accounts of English encroachments on New Netherland. A great historical resource for the Dutch seaborne empire at its height. Historisch Verhael: VAIL 65. EUROPEAN AMERICANA 622/168 and 20 other numbers thro. Seller Inventory # WRCAM53078

Bibliographic Details

Title: HISTORISCH VERHAEL ALDER ...
Publisher: Amsterdam
Publication Date: 1635