[Chapbooks] Two Ghent editions: (1) De schoone historie van Julius Caesar

en de Romeynen, Hoe zij deze Nederlanden eerst gewonnen, en daer naer verloren hebben. Hier vind gy ook de stichtingen van alle de oudste Steden van deze Nederlanden, van wie zy bekeerd zijn tot het Christen Geloof, en vele andere vremde dingen. Van nieuws overzien, en op vele plaetsen verbeterd. Ghent, B. Poelman, n.d. (c. 1785), 80 p., with woodcut title vignette, 19th-century half cloth by Duquesne (Ghent), 4to (small hole in spine).

Very good copy with ex libris of Wilem de Vreese (1869-1938) on inside front board. The library of this important professor of Middle Dutch codicology was sold at auction at Beijers in 1965. The approval at the end is dated 1758; (2) De schoone historie van Julius Caesar (...). Exactly the same title as the former (incl. subtitle and "van nieuws overzien (...)"), but with addition: "Dezen druk vermeerderd met de Beschryvinge van den geheelen Levens-Loop van Julius Cesar. Als ook de korte Beschryvinge van de Nederlanden en van de Zeden en Gewoonten der Inwoonders, getrokken uyt verscheyde oud Historie-Schryvers." Ghent, J. Begeyn, n.d. (c. 1810), 77,(3) p., with title woodcut and 1 woodcut illustration, contemporary cordbound turned wrapper, 4to (wrapper with a few small holes/ tears, but a very good copy). The addition of the life of Caesar takes up pages 2 and 3, the description of the Netherlands the final three pages. Of both editions of this rare chapbook, the year of publication is questionable, the copies with these publisher's names described by libraries greatly differ in dating. (total 2)