4 vol. in-folio (49 x 33 cm), presentation copy, bound by the VAN DAMME Bindery in four very beautiful, gold-tooled bindings. Contemporary gold-stamped red morocco leather with 8 raised bands, all edges gilt-edged. All four bindings have wide lacework on the covers and in the middle a black central ornament with two lions passant (the coat of arms of Friesland) under a starry sky. Framed within a large triumphal arch (very distinctive for this bindery), standing on a black border with rectangular blocks. Volume 1 also features two figures standing on this border, probably Mars and Mercury, on both the front and back cover. The spines are decorated with floral and ornamental designs, leaving space for the title and volume indication. Spine-ends of vol.1 split at the hinges going up to 7 cm. on one side, lacks part of the bottom endband. Some minor imperfections and scratches on all covers, a number of corners a bit worn. A beautiful and eye-catching set, one of two known surviving copies of this splendid commission
"Provenance: B.M. Israel 1973-2002 Ref. Storm van Leeuwen, J. (2006). Dutch Decorated Bookbinding in the Eighteenth Century Volume I, p. 465-467 ; III, p. 505 & col. plate 5. The Van Damme Bindery was active in the year 1750-1786 in the city Amsterdam, its bindings were regarded as part of the best bindings that were made in Amsterdam during the Eighteenth Century. This copy was part of an exceptionally important commission by the States of Friesland for five copies of the first four volumes, all printed on royal-sized paper and bound in abundantly gold-tooled bindings by the Van Damme Bindery. One of these copies is held at the National Library (KB) at The Hague, one of the others presented here. ""It must have been an exceptionally important commission as well as a great honour for the Van Damme Bindery to make these bindings"""
