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Van Loon's Classic Work on Dutch Medals

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 USD
Van Loon's Classic Work on Dutch Medals
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Loon, Gerard van. BESCHRYVING DER NEDERLANDSCHE HISTORIPENNINGEN: OF BEKNOPT VERHAAL VAN'T GENE SEDERT DE OVERDRACHT DER HEERSCHAPPYE VAN KEYSER KAREL DEN VYFDEN OP KONING PHILIPS ZYNEN ZOON, TOT HET SLUYTEN VAN DEN UYTRECHTSCHEN VREEDE, IN DE ZEVENTIEN NEDERLANDSCHE GEWESTEN IS VOORGEVALLEN. In 's Graavenhaage: By Christiaan van Lom, Isaac Vaillant, Pieter Gosse, Rutgert Alberts, en Pieter de Hondt, 1723, 1726, 1728 & 1731. First edition. Four volumes, complete. Folio [45.5 by 30.5 cm], most handsomely bound in contemporary matching mottled brown full calf, sides decorated in an intricate floral motif incorporating three heavily gilt, wide concentric panels with gilt sprays at the corners of the middle panel, tulips at the corners of the innermost panel, and a quite remarkable heavy-gilt central cartouche, incorporating stylized seashells; spines with eight raised bands, richly decorated in gilt in a floral motif; red and black spine labels, gilt; all board edges decorated in gilt; all page edges mottled. (42), 574, (48); (4), 562, (38); (4), 556, (38); (4), 697, (1), (36) pages; finely engraved title by Goeree; printed titles in red and black, each with a fine engraved printer's device; fine dedicatory engraving in each volume [first two signed by Goeree]; magnificent engraved portrait of the author by van Mieris; woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces; engraved headpiece to second and third volumes; finely engraved folding plate bound in on hinges; numerous fine engravings of medals and coins throughout the text of all four volumes. Minor wear to binding, with some cracking to joints and occasional discoloration, but binding still sound and quite attractive. Marginal endpaper discoloration. An attractive, very good or better set. A magnificently produced work, still the standard reference on over 3000 historical medals from 1556 to 1716. In the December 2009 issue of the MCA Advisory, John W. Adams wrote: "the work is as relevant now as it was when published... As a reference work, 'van Loon' deserves its reputation for meticulous [engravings], accurate legends (and translations), well-described devices and copious historical support. A numismatic library that does not have a set of van Loon is not, simply put, a numismatic library." This set features a remarkably exuberant binding, certainly the work of a master and likely commissioned by a prestigious owner. Clain-Stefanelli 14855*. Cumont 2086. Engel & Serrure 4341. Grierson 265. Hirsch 78 (translation). Lipsius 235. Van Damme 906.