Author: DE WITT (Johann):
Title: The True Interest and Political Maxims of the Republick of Holland and West-Friesland. In Three Parts. The First Treating o Liberty in General. Of Manufactures. Fisheries. Traffick. Navigation. Toleration of Religion. A General Naturalization. Freedom from Imposts. Impartial Justice; and Settling of Colonys. Part II and III. Of a Free Navigation and clearing the Seas. Of Ware and Peace, and Alliances, particularly with England, France and Spain. Of the natural Strength and Fortifications of Holland. And Of its Interest in all Respects as to the Government of a Single Person.
Description: London, Printed in the Year 1702. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. lvi, 492, including half-title and engraved portrait, slightly later 18th century calf, morocco label (chipped); margins water-stained throughout with text also occasionally affected, front cover detached with portrait and blank leaf attached to it, title-page and next 5 leaves also completely detached from inner margin, a rather sad copy. An inscription on the verso of the title-page suggests a possible association with the author: "John Lee/ Hartwell/ 11 August 1864/ a present from my learned friend/ George Witt Esqr F. R. S." These persons appear to be John Lee (1783 - 1866), the traveller, astronomer, and antiquary; and George Witt (1804 - 1869), who was early in life a medical researcher and published works on cholera in India and on osteology. The inscription appears above an armorial bookplate of a shield in four quadrants with an anchor at the apex of a half-diamond in the NE and SW quadrants, a checkerboard design running from the NW through the SE quadrants, with a chained bard and upper portion of a rearing horse above the shield and the motto "verum atque decens" below the shield. This motto was used by several people surnamed Lee. The republican and Grand Pensionary of Holland, Johann de Witt (1625 - 1672), guided his country through a difficult period, particularly in his negotiations both with Cromwell and Charles II. He and his brother, Cornelius, were tramped to death by a mob in August, 1672.

Keywords: Holland politics prose


See more books from our catalog: Holland