Pontanus Rerum Et Urbis

PONTANUS, Johannes Isacius. With accounts of early Dutch voyages (East Indies, Nova Zembla) Rerum et Urbis Amstelodamensium historia. Amsterdam, Jodocus Hondius, 1611.
First edition of the earliest description of Amsterdam, its history and institutions. Pontanus' description far exceeds the limits of the usual town-descriptions, elaborately incorporating the history of the voyages of exploration and commerce undertaken by the enterprising citizens of Amsterdam. Pontanus also describes in detail the activities on the Amsterdam stock and commodity markets, which were among the earliest of the world, and at the time the most important. Of special importance are the accounts of Dutch explorations in the East-Indies, including the accounts of the two first voyages to the East Indies, and the text reports of the attempts to find a North-East Passage. The map of the Polar regions illustrating the third voyage of Willem Barentsz. to Nova Zembla (1596-97) is also important as an Americanum in giving the results of Hudson's first two voyages (1607-1608) for the Muscovy Company of London. The appearence of the map by Hondius was doubtless the result of Hudson's employment by the Dutch East India Company in 1609. So, the present Amsterdam-description is of interest for the history of economy, as well as for the history of world travel. Isaac Pontanus (1571-1639) studied in Franeker and Leiden where he became Doctor Philosophiae in 1593. During one of his many journeys he also studied with Tycho Brahe in Denmark. In 1606 he was appointed professor in Harderwijk. He has published many historical works, among others on Gelderland and Denmark. This history of Amsterdam, dedicated to the magistrate of Amsterdam is the very first history of this city. It aroused also attacks from various sides and the work was placed on the Index for several years. In 1614 a Dutch translation was published by P. Montanus in Amsterdam.
Good copy.- (Some soiling; binding spotted).
Nijhoff-Van Hattum 252; Sabin 64002; Tiele 111; <I>JCB</I>, p. 78; <I>JFB,</I> p. 369.

Folio. Contemporary plain vellum with blind tooled lines along the edges, spine lettered in ink. With engraved title, 7 double-page engraved maps and plates and 50 maps and views in text. (8), 292, (6), 38, (3) pp.

[SW: Amsterdam;Low Countries;America, North;Cartography]

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