Frontispieces · 18th century
€ 440
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good. Minor foxing and soiling and light damp stains at the bottom edge. Study the images carefully.
The Amboinese Cabinet of Curiosities was a work by Georg Eberhard Rumphius, and included many engravings of sea shells and crustaceans.
The German edition of the book was financed by Johann Balthasar Probst, publisher in Augsburg.
As for the print itself, it features an elaborate ornamental design typical of the Baroque period, with various figures and motifs that suggest a fanciful or mythological theme. The central cartouche is surrounded by a variety of figures, including putti (cherubic figures), one of whom is holding a shield with the text, and a snail.
The detailed etching technique and the presence of figures from nature and mythology are indicative of a time when such embellishments were common in literature, designed to captivate and intrigue the reader. The image is rich in symbolism and ornate details, which would likely appeal to collectors of antique prints.
More research is needed.
