[Commelin] Beschryvinge van Amsterdam,

zynde een naukeurige verhandelinge van desselfs eerste oorspronck uyt den huyse der Heeren van Amstel, en Amstelland, haar vergrootingen, rykdom, en wyze van regeeringe, tot den jare 1691. (...) door Casparus Commelin. Amsterdam, widow of Aart Dirksz. Oossaan, 1694/ 1693, 2 vols., (20),528; (2),529-1223,(41) p., with the following engravings: frontispiece, 1 fold. panorama, 5 (fold./ double-p.) maps, 46 (double-p.) views and plates, numerous illustrations in the text (a few woodcuts), 3 double-p. letterpress plates, contemp. unif. polished calf, gilt and ribbed spine w. mor. letterpiece, all edges speckled, folio.

Joints starting/ splitting at spine ends; spine ends of the first volume sl. chipped. Fine, attractively bound copy with only a few minor defects. The plates in this first edition (all present according to the binder's index) are excellently printed with much contrast. As usual, the illustration of the Oude St. Anthonispoort on p. 193 is pasted over a plan of castles that was erroneously printed there. This engraved plan can also be found in its correct place, on page 1034. Desirable copy from the famous library of Cornelis Henricus à Roy (1751-1833), with his heraldic engr. bookplate on both upper pastedowns. His wonderful library was catalogued in 5 volumes in 1830 (and appendix in 1834). In this catalogue, Commelin's description of Amsterdam is number 17036, in volume 5.