4to. (XV),(1 blank),144,(4 index),(1),(1 blank); 55,(1 blank),(1 index),(3 blank); 49,(1 blank),(3 index),(1 blank); 288,(4 index) p., frontispiece, portrait. Vellum 21 cm (Ref: STCN ppn 066935423; Graesse 4,501; Sandys 2,306) (Details: 6 thongs laced through the joints. Frontispiece by A. de Blois, it depicts an allegorical scene: in the centre a monument for Paul(l)us Merula, featuring a small bust of him surrounded by a laurel border; a winged Fama hovers on top, blowing her trumpet; left of the monument probably Rome, a woman in royal robe, crown on her head & scepter in her right hand; at the left a priestress, a full moon on her breast, behind her an elephant; in the background several scenes and statues. § Engraved printer's device of Du Vivié on the title-page, showing a radiant sun above a Dutch landscape, motto: 'Ab Uno vita'. There are also copies that have a printer's mark with the motto 'Laurea Vincenti'. § A fresh and beautiful folding portrait of 44 year old Merula by the Dutch engraver Jacob Maetham, 1571-1631; he is also known as Jacob Matham; the portait shows Merula three quarters, within an oval frame; at the bottom of the frame the date of the engraving: `1602, mens. octobr.'; above his head the adagium: 'Vincenti Laurus', 'the wreath of laurels for the winner'; this was according to Johannes Meursius in his famous 'Athenae Batavae', the motto of Merula. (Athenae Batavae, Leiden 1625, volume 1, p. 159) The motto is without doubt a reference to Matthew 24,13: 'Qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit'. On the pedestal below the portrait 4 lines of verse by the Dutch classical scholar and neolatin poet Daniël Heinsius: ‘Hospes Batavi Merulae Vultum vides, / Qui sceptra Leidae sacra Musarum gerit. / Orbem dat Orbi; restat Externis nihil. / Terram Batavi fabricant, subdunt Mare’. The plate with portrait measures 20,9x14,5 cm, the whole leaf is 24,5x18. A digital copy may be found on 'rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/RP-P-OB-27.285X '. § Ma(e)tham was an apprentice of the famous engraver Goltzing, who married Jacob's mother) (Condition: Cover somewhat soiled. Else a good copy in a good condition) (Note: The Dutch historian and classical scholar Pau(l)lus Merula, 1558-1607, the Latin form of Van Merle (or Maarle), was born in the city Dordrecht. In 1593 he was appointed professor of History at the university of Leiden. His colleague there was the famous scholar Joseph Justus Scaliger, 1540-1609. His opinion of Merula: ‘C’est un pauvre esprit et jugement, comme tous ces Hollandais, au reste bon homme’. Several of Merula's works were published after his death. This edition of 1684 contains Merula's treatises: 'De sacrificiis Romanorum, De sacerdotibus Romanorum, De legibus Romanorum, De comitiis Romanorum' and 'De praemiis'. They were collected and edited by C.A. Maersche J.C. This is probably the jurist Cornelis van der Maerschen, ca. 1652-1721. (See for good information about Merula ' regionaalarchiefdordrecht.nl/biografisch-woordenboek/paullus-merula/ ') § On the title page of Merula's edition of Ennius' Annals of 1595, as on this title of 1684 the initials G.F.P.N. pop up between the Christian name and surname. In several 'Alba Amicorum' Merula signed as 'Paullus G.F.P.N. Merula', i.e. 'Guilielmi Filius Paulli Nepos Merula') (Provenance: Label on front pastedown: 'Ex libris Edm. De Deijn, Ninove'. In ink on flyleaf an old price: Constat 50 assi. Edmond De Deyn was mayor of the Flamish city of Ninove from 1895 till 1911. (See Wikipedia s.v. Ninove) He was interested in the history and archaeology of Flanders. He was a member of the 'Oudheidkundige Kring'. He bequaethed his collection of archaeological finds and objects to the Stedelijk Museum Oud-Hospitaal, Aalst) (Collation: *-2*4 (portrait after leaf *4); A-S4, T2; chi1, 2A-G4 (leaf 2G4 verso blank), 2H2 (leaf 2H1 verso blank, leaf 2H2 blank); 2chi1; 3A-F4, 3G1, 3O2; 4A-2N4, 4O2) (The third part mentioned on the title, 'De comitiis', was bound after the treatise 'De legibus', which is last mentioned) (Photographs on request)