First illustrated edition of Kirchmann’s work on Roman funeral rites, Dutch prize binding with provenance, 1672

Beschreibung

Johannes KIRCHMANN: JOHAN. KIRCHMANN / DE / FUNERIBUS / ROMANORUM / LIBRI QUATUOR / CUM / APPENDICE, Nitidissimis Figuris illustrati. Accessit et funus parasicitum Nicolai Rigaltii. With: Johannes Kirchmanni In funere V. Cl. Pauli G.F.P.N. Merulae. Historiarum Professoris in academia Batavorum, & Foederatarum Provinciarum Historiographi, Oratio, in qua de vita scriptisque ejus disseritur. With etched frontispiece and 4 etched folding plates by R[omeyn] de Hooghe, as well as 2 titles pages with woodcut printer’s device. Leiden: Hacke 1672.

12mo. [24 leafs, *–**12], p. 1-649 (wrongly numbered 641) [1], [23 leafs]; 24 p.; [4 leafs, A4], 64 p. Contemporary Dutch vellum prize binding with gilt embossed city of Rotterdam coat of arms on front and rear cover, as well as hand written title on spine, both framed with floral ornaments.

First illustrated edition of an extensive work on funeral rites in Ancient Rome by German scholar Johannes Kirchmann, this copy in a contemporary Rotterdam prize binding and with rich provenance.

Contents, Illustration: First illustrated edition of this comprehensive Latin treatise by German philologist Johannes Kirchmann (1575-1643), originally published in 1605, the only edition to contain the detailed artistic etchings by famous Dutch engraver Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708). A substantial compilation of inscriptions and quotations taken from ancient authors concerning the funeral rites, burial places, etc. of antiquity and especially of the Romans, „De funeribus Romanorum“ includes accounts on the preservation of the corpse, the mourners and funeral processions, cremations, burials and memorials (thanks to Michael Laird). Written in four parts, each part is introduced with an etched folding. The appendix contains a treatise by French librarian Nicolas Rigault on the challenge to keep parasites away from dead corpses. Bound within is Kirchmann’s funeral oration for Paulus Mercula, a Leiden professor, who died 1607 in Rostock, where Kirchmann taught poetry.

Provenance: (1) 2nd fly leaf recto broadly inscribed for „Matthaeus Stoltz“, student at Rotterdam’s »Illustre school« college, dated October 1703 and fully signed by the head of this institution, Johannes Sylvius (1669-1723), by scholar Johannes Texelius (1637-1726) and pastor Johannes Doesburgh (born 1647), teachers for ancient greek, rhetorics and theology at this very college, as well as by a a certain „Gebranz“. (2) 2nd fly leaf verso with later owner’s remark: „Wilts. Royer Daventria [Deventer] / Constat SA. SL.“ (3) Lithographed pictorial book-plate of Albert Ehrmann (1890-1969) at upper paste-down, founder of the Broxbourne Library (nowadays part of Cambridge University Library), who obviously bought this copy from the Paris bookseller Ernest Thorin (with the bookseller’s label of the latter in the same place).

Binding: The neat vellum prize binding incorporates the gilt embossed city of Rotterdam coat of arms framed with floral ornaments on front and rear cover.

Condition: Cover lacking the textile clasps, plates 2 and 4 bound in before p. 49 and p. 449 (instead of p. 99 and p. 479, as stated in print), binding minimally worn, otherwise fresh copy indeed.

Reference: Landwehr, Romeyn de Hooghe, no. 20; STCN 833691473 and STCN 833691341.