First edition of one of the most popular Dutch emblem books.
There are numerous plates which feature excellent representations of animals, but others include a lute-player, children playing games as well as an alchemist in his laboratory. One emblem, no 19, recommends that wine can sharpen the mind, it shows a begging Pegasus, who stands beside Bacchus astride his barrel, goblet aloft, demanding a sip. The fine plates have been ascribed to Crispin de Passe, although one of the engravings bears the monogram “S M”.
Florens van Schoonhoven (1594-1648) was only 24 when this his only book was published, and had studied law at Leiden University where he also converted to Catholicism, his fine portrait opens the work.
The arms are possibly those of a member of the Lyonnese family of Pomponne de Bellièvre, many of whom were notable statesmen and bibliophiles, although they differ from the arms reproduced in Olivier (nos. 482 & 483).
Occasional light browning otherwise a good copy.
Praz, p. 493. Landwehr, Low Countries 727. Hollstein XVI, 173.
