Scarce Second Volume of Emanuel Van Meteren's Book on Dutch History, With First Appearance in Print of Henry Hudson's Voyage

Emanuel Van Meteren. BELGISCHE OSTE NEDERLANTSCHE OORLOGEN ENDE GHESCHIEDENISSEN BEGINNENDE VAN T'LAER 1595 TOT 1611, MEDE VERVATENDE ENIGHE HAERDER GEBUEREN HANDELINGHE... BIJ HEM VOOR DE LESTE REYSE OVERSIE VERBETERT ENDE VERMEERDERT NA DIE COPIE GEDRUCKT OP SCHOTLANT BUYTEN DANSWYTK BY HERMES VAN LOVEN. s.l. [Dordrecht?]: printed by H. van Loven for the author, 1611. Bound in embossed calf with raised bands on the spine, all edges stained. 4to; ff. [2], 118, [4], 385 [i.e. 383], [10]; π2 A-O8 P6 Q4 A-2Z8 3A2 3B8 3C4 3D6 (lacking several leaves in final gatherings?). The last and most complete edition with Van Meteren's last corrections, per the title page, before his death. This second volume picks up where the first volume ended, in the year 1595, and ends in the year 1610. With engraved title page, printed marginalia, and occasional decoration including head or tailpiece, decorated initial, and three small portraits. Printed Gothic type, printed in columns; text in Dutch. Sabin 48175; STCN 861385772.


10 x 8 in.

Private North Carolina Collection

Writer and historian Henry Harrisse notes that this volume "contains the first account that appeared in print of Hudson's voyage for the East-India Company" in 1609 (Biblioteca Americana vet., xxxvii).

Emanuel Van Meteren (1535-1612), a Flemish historian, wrote the book in England, supposedly using a journal kept during the journey. The place of publication for this second volume was concealed intentionally due to problems with the first. (Historical Souvenir of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration, 11-12).

Boards with general age wear such as scuffing, chipping, rubbing, and light creasing, some marks on the lower board, scattered wormholes, clasps now lost, and wear to corners, raised bands, and spine ends; significant cracking at head of front joint and gutter before title page, though still a sturdy volume; endpapers with early writing and general wear; interior with toning, very light foxing, occasional grime and areas of insect damage, and occasional damp staining, chipping, and small tears and losses at margins; occasional foliation errors and variation in paper thickness; B8 with repair to text; three leaves with a small hole.