"Historische Chronica…", Gottfried, J.L.

This is a fascinating World Chronicle by Johann Gottfried, translated from German to Dutch and published by Matthaus Merian. The book covers the time period from the Creation until the early 17th century and covers both religious and secular topics with hundreds of illustrations interspersed in the text. The title page features an engraving of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, surrounded by soldiers with cherubs inscribing the title. The map included is Typus Orbis Terrarum by Merian which is a double hemisphere world map. It features the island of California, a huge southern continent and no trace yet of Australia. The most striking features of the map are the depictions of the sun and moon and Jehovah, in Hebrew, at top and interesting allegorical representations of the elements at bottom; a dragon represents fire, a phoenix for air, a flowering plant for earth and a pair of sea monsters for water. The sea is stipple engraved. This is the second state, with the title in a strapwork panel at top.

The book includes 1 world map, a plan of the siege of Ostend, Belgium, 2 title pages, 31 pages of portraits, and hundreds of vivid illustrations. 1185 pp. Folio, hardbound in modern full calf with gilt title and embossing on spine.

References: Shirley #356A.

Condition: B

The map has a light damp stain in the image and an edge tear confined to the blank margin closed with old paper. Text has some occasional damp stains, worm tracks, and a few of the pages are torn. The first 7 pages have old paper repairs to numerous chips, primarily confined to blank margins. Rebound with new spine and original covers. Previous owner's label is on the inside front cover.