Typus Occasionis. in quo receptae commoda, neglectae verò incommoda, personato schemate proponuntur
Antwerp: [Plantin Press] Theodorus Gallaeus, 1603. 4to, 18.5x14.5cm, [2 blank], [20]ff, [13 blank]. Engraved title and 12 plates with Latin explication, all engraved, interleaved with translations in printed Dutch, and including the Praefatie. Few later pencil annotations on endpapers, one noting this book was sold as part of John Allan's library in New York, 1864, along with 19th century pen annotation, perhaps by John Allan. Early vellum binding with faded title in manuscript on spine. Vellum a bit brittle, mainly on spine where it is chipped, with cords showing. Boards toned and soiled. Damp staining to margins of last 7 leaves of text, and more pronounced on final blank leaves. A very good, complete, and sound copy with extremely attractive plates.
Quite scarce Low Country emblem book being an allegorical story of seduction (corrupt impulses and vices being depicted as demons) which ends in Purgatory. The engravings portray the Jesuit idea of the spiritual struggle between good and evil for the salvation of the human soul.
A book with the same title held at the Getty Research Institute is catalogued as appearing in 1597 from Cologne printer and engraver Jacques Honervogt. The catalogue notes these engravings were redone in reverse by Galle, and with an extensive explication by Joannes David, and also issued in 1605 as Occasio Arrepta [and] Occasio Drama.
We note digitized copies catalogued as appearing in 1603, but with the variation of no date on the title page. We have searched auction records, OCLC, and USTC, and note only the digitized copy at the Cicognara Library as having a similar number of leaves. Other records and catalogue entries only cite the title, preface, and 12 plates, not the interleaved Dutch translation.
Price: $1,500.00