One of the finest emblem books of the century (Scheepers). The engravings show scenes from daily life, interiors, costumes etc. Mario Praz singled out the emblems in this book, each one a tiny masterpiece, as ‘especially remarkable’ for their realism and for their reflection of contemporary currents in Dutch painting.

Text contains also poems in Latin and French, which are all translated into Dutch.
This rare 'second edition' is in fact a reissueof the first (1624), augmented with one engraving, and additional gatherings, 2Z4, 3A4, 3B2.

Johan de Brune (1588-1658) was a lawyer, politician and part-time writer and poet in the province of Zeeland, He wrote a very polished Dutch and therefore never became as popular as Cats, who also hailed from this province. Because of its moral messages some commentators have characterised this book as containing sermons rather than emblematics.

The designer of the emblems, Adriaen van der Venne, was a sought after painter, engraver and poet known for his lively depictions of daily life.

- Provenance:
1) de Visser very small in ink on lower paste down.
2) Armorial Ex libris: “Frank Linsly James” (by Harry Soane 1881) with the motto “J’aime à jamais” on upper paste down. Frank Linsly James (1851-1890) was a famous Africa explorer, he was killed by an elephant.
3) Round Ex libris: Bob Luza on upper paste down.

- Literature: Landwehr 87; Praz 288; Cf Emblem Books in Leiden 75 and 76 (1st ed. 1624 and 1661); Franken, Adriaen van de Venne 110; Graesse I, 662; Rahir 196 (ed. 1624, 'jolies figures'); Scheepers I, 341 (ed. 1624); Hendriks/Verkruijsse 1024.

- Condition: Waterstain in upper inner margin from p. 166 until end; Else a very clean copy with strong impressions; A very desirable copy.