Hogenberg, A volume of plates depicting the Dutch War of Independence, [Cologne, c. 1570-1600], modern vellum

HOGENBERG, FRANS [AND ABRAHAM HOGENBERG]

Etchings of scenes from the Dutch War of Independence against the Spanish, covering the years 1567-1594. [Cologne, c. 1570-1600]

oblong folio (255 x 330mm.), 158 engraved plates with integral captions in German verse (a few also with French captions, one plate with letterpress verses below), modern vellum with modern manuscript title-page, card slipcase, occasional light staining, a few plates worn at edges, last few plates frayed at edges and laid down, lacking letterpress leaf of text at start; sold as a collection of plates not subject to return

Hogenberg (1535-1590) was sympathetic to the Reformation and fled from Antwerp to Cologne, where he set up a printing shop. This volume contains several different series of plates, the first of which was originally issued with a letterpress title, Kurtzer bericht dess jenigen was sich ihm Niderlandt in Religions sachen und sunst von Anno MDLXVI biss auff diss Gegenwertigen siebentzigsten Jars zugetragen hat mitt sampt dem Krich zwisshen Duca d. Alba und dem Printzen zu Vranien (not here present). Hogenberg and his son Abraham produced several series of these Geschichtsblätter from 1570 to 1610, some of which covered contemporary events in England and France. They are considered important early sources of contemporary news because of the continuous nature of their publication.

The plates include town views and maps of the Spanish Netherlands and naval battles, providing fascinating period detail of buildings and costumes as well as the events of the war. The plate showing the assassination of William of Orange (10 July 1584; New Hollstein B201) is the only plate to contain Hogenberg's name. Not all the plates are by him, and the final four plates in this set are dated to 1592-1594, i.e. after Franz Hogenberg's death in 1590.

This set comprises plates from series V-X of Hogenberg's etchings of the Wars of Religion, in varying states. Three of the plates lacking from series VIII detailed monks being executed for sodomy.

LITERATURE:

New Hollstein, Frans Hogenberg, B57-76, B90-108, B111-119, B121-142, B144, B146-147, B150, B152-158, B161-164, B166,B165, B167-198, B201-203, B199, B204-205, B208, [unnumbered plate of Antwerp], B209-224, B226-237 (listed in order of appearance, and excluding the final 4 plates)