Beschreibung:

MERIAN, Matthäus (1593-1650, illustrator). Theatrum Europaeum . Frankfurt: [various publishers], 1662-1698. 11 volumes (only, of 21), comprising vols I-IV, VI-X, and XII-XIII, 2° (320 x 200mm). 11 engraved allegorical frontispieces, 11 letterpress titles with woodcut vignettes, one printed in red and black. 817 engraved plates, including 294 half-page portraits, 157 full-page portraits and 366 double-page or folding maps, views, scenes of battles and ceremonies. (Some light browning throughout, creasing to some plates, and occasional marginal tears, neat tear across folding plate facing page 829 to Vol. I, some loss to map facing page 1225 in Vol IX, and to map facing page 339 in Vol. XXI.) Contemporary speckled calf, spine in compartments, the second with paper lettering-piece, armorial gilt stamps to covers (scuffed and chipped with minor losses). Provenance : Johann Josef, Graf von Wildenstein (binding). Mixed edition, volumes VI, VIII-X and XII-XIII first editions. 'OUVRAGE IMPORTANT ET IMPARTIAL, indespensable à tous les historiographes à cause de ses notices exactes et détaillées sur l'histoire de de cette époque-là' (Graesse). Johann Phillip Abelin was responsible for the first two volumes of the work, which was continued by various writers and grew to 21 volumes, becoming a comprehensive historical chronicle of events in Europe from 1617 onwards, illustrated by the beautiful copperplate engravings by Matthäus Merian Cf. Lipperheide Ci 20; cf. Graesse VII, p.110. (11)