Venne, Adriaen van de

Tafereel van de Belacchende Werelt, en des self geluckige Eeuwe, Goet Rondt, met by-gevoegde Raedel-Spreucken, aen-gevvesen in de Boer-Achtige Eenvoudigheyt, op de Haegsche Kermis. The Hague: voor den autheur, 1635



4to (8 5/8 x 6 7/8 in.; 220 x 175 mm). Engraved title (printed separately and pasted to the stub of letterpress title), engraved title vignette, 12 half-page engraved text illustrations, all illustrations colored by a contemporary hand; some leaves very lightly browned, an occasional marginal spot. 17th-century gilt-tooled calf, decorated in a panel design with two broad frames of animal or plant interlacing roll tools, floral stamps at four corners, spine gilt using the same flower ornament, gilt-stamped red morocco title label, edges gilt; extremities rubbed, small tear at lower end of upper hinge.

Hollstein IX, 205, no. 119; XXXV, nos. 438–445

First edition, an extraordinary colored copy of this humorous verse portrayal of life in The Hague, composed by the artist and occasional writer Adriaen van de Venne, who had settled there in 1625. The title and plates were engraved after the author's drawings by Daniel van Bremden, Pieter de Jode the Younger, Pieter Serwouters, and others. Several of the engravings had appeared earlier in van de Venne's Sinne-droom (1634).

A magnificent copy, in original condition with bright color. No colored copy has appeared at auction in the past 35 years.