Van Damme Bindery; G.F. Baron Thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg - Groot Placaat en Charter-Boek van Vriesland - 1768/1782

Groot Placaat en Charter-Boek van Vriesland. Eerste (-Vierde) Deel. Aanvang nemende met de oudste Wetten der Vriezen, eindigende met het jaar 1499 (-1604). Behelzende de grondslag hunner vryheit, gebouwt op de uitsteekenste voorrechten, in veele en voornaame givt-brieven glansryk doorstraalende, aangevuld met plegtige verbonden, onderscheydene accoorden, vrye geleyden, en andere aanmerkelyke stukken. Verçierd Met ophelderende Aantekeningen en verbeterde Leezingen der oude Afschrivten.

4 volumes, (112) 796 (86), (2, LXXXIX, 20) 205 (26) 209-875 (34), (2) 1227 (41), (2) 1287 (43) p. Superb contemporary gold-stamped red morocco with 8 raised bands, all edges gilt-edged, large-Folio H. 49 x L. 33 x W. 10-15 cm. (Some minor imperfections and scratches on all covers, a number of corners a bit worn. All four volumes weigh around 20 kg. and are all bound with marbled endpapers.)

The only general charter book concerning the province of Friesland, published with all official documents from the Frisian legal history, compiled by Baron Georg Frederik thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg, 1733-1783. The entire work is bound by the Van Damme Bindery in four very beautiful, gold-tooled bindings. The Van Damme Bindery was active in the year 1750-1786 in the city of 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 is offered here, and was "the property of someone now unknown but undoubtedly important for Friesland" (Storm van Leeuwen).

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 a 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. Good and clean interiors, entirely printed on royal-sized paper with broad margins.

A beautiful and eye-catching set, one of two known surviving copies of this splendid commission!

Eekhoff, W. (1856). Geschiedenis van de Zamenstelling en Uitgave van het Groot Plakkaat- en Charterboek van Friesland. / Storm van Leeuwen, J. (1977). Enige ontwikkelingen in de stijl van platbestempeling bij Nederlandse boekbanden uit de achttiende eeuw. In Documentatieblad werkgroep Achttiende eeuw. Jaargang 1977, p. 16-19 / Storm van Leeuwen, J. (2006). Dutch Decorated Bookbinding in the Eighteenth Century Volume I, p. 460-496
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