Damme, Pieter van. 1728-1806.

Catalogue De La Bibliothéque [sic] Et Du Cabinet De Médailles.

The Hague, [Amsterdam, Allart and Co. for] C. Mensing et al. 1807.

Two volumes. 8vo (218 x 145 mm.). FRONTISPIECE BUST PORTRAIT of Damme (Bogerts after Pothoven), 5, [2], [1 blank], 230, [4]p. and 4, 340, [3]p.

Contemporary half-calf and speckled boards (rubbed, joints of Vol. II split at the crown), flat spines covered in blooms and foliage, gilt red and yellow morocco labels. INTERLEAVED.

            The private numismatic library and spectacular coin and medal collection of the first Dutch antiquarian bookseller. Over fifty years, Damme amassed thousands of gold, silver and bronze ancient and modern coins and medals and assembled a superb supporting library on numismatics, archaeology, antiquities and collecting. The book entries often cite bibliographies and note provenance and annotation. The coins and medals are ranked from “R” for rare to “RRRR” for unica.
            AN EARLY OWNER RECORDED EVERY PRICE AND BUYER IN MANUSCRIPT ON THE INTERLEAVED BLANKS. The annotations allow a detailed social and commercial analysis. The trade dominated the dispersal of the books, which totaled fl. 4214 for 1400 lots. In contrast, the coins and medals were hotly contested by collectors and dealers. The newly established National Coin Collection also spent lavishly. The 5650 lots brought fl. 82,792. This set is a gold mine. In excellent condition, mostly uncut.
¶La Fontaine Verwey, “P. van Damme, the first Dutch antiquarian bookseller” in Theatrum Orbis Librorum…presented to Nico Israel edd. Croiset van Uchelen et al. 416-36; Lugt, Répertoire des catalogues des ventes publiques 1600-1825 7361

Item #10037

Price: $5,200.00