(VERSTEGAN (VERSTEGEN), RICHARD)

Antiquitates Belgicae, of Nederlandsche Oudtheden. Zijnde d'Eerste Opkomst van Holland, Zeeland,'t Sticht Utrecht, Overyzel. Vriesland, Brabrand, Vlaanderen, enz. Nenessens Dier Landaarts Oorsprongk, Voortgang. eerste Christendom,.... met Konstprinten verciert.

Amsterdam, Jacob van Royen, 1700. Small8vo. Contemp. full vellum. handwritten title to spine. Engraved titlepage and printed. (16),224,(16) pp., 1 folded engraved map (Belgium vet. oudt Nederland en desselfs Bevolkinge), 14 engraved plates and 7 large engravings in the text. Some of the plates a bit shaved in right margins. Light traces of use.

The work offered here is the fourth edition of his "The Nederlantsche Antiquiteyten", published from 1613 onwards, and is an adaptation of his "Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities", published in Antwerpen 1605 and considered his main work. From 1617 to about 1630 Verstegan was a prolific writer in Dutch, producing epigrams, characters, jestbooks, polemics etc. The work is remarkable as perhaps the first endeavour to persuade Englishmen that they should regard with special predilection the remains of Anglo-Saxon in their language, customs, and laws a matter in which (despite obvious faults) he was far in advance of his age, when the influence of Latin was so predominant.

Order-nr.: 49143