De Amsterdamse boekhandel 1680-1725. Deel 5. De boekhandel van de Republiek 1572-1795

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Summary

The Amsterdam book trade 1680-1725

Vol. I Jean Louis de Lorme and his letter-book (Jean Louis de Lorme en zijn copieboek)

Pp. 6-7 The Preface (Ter introductie) deals with the fund established by H.J. Duyvis for the publication of documentary material of the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam.

Pp. 9-13 The Introduction (Inleiding) surveys the scarcity of published material about the Dutch book trade in general in the 17th and 18th centuries as well as the errors likely to be made in a broad study of this subject without sufficient knowledge of the details. It was the discovery of a letter-book written in 1707 and 1708 by J.L. de Lorme, a well-known Amsterdam bookseller that led to writing about him and his relatives, (pp. 9-10).

Volume I deals with these letters. An outline is made for the three other volumes, (pp. 10-11).

Details about how the letters are published in vol. I follow. Particulars about each addressee are given, about his relations with De Lorme in particular. Where known, the date of the letter answered is added between brackets and excerpts from the letters are given. All the letters to l'abbé Bignon, the unofficial director of the book trade in France (directeur de la librairie), are printed in extenso, as well as those to De Lorme's Dutch connections, to various French booksellers, etc., and to the illustrator Picart. (pp. 11-13).

Pp. 14-23 The life of J.L. de Lorme and his relatives (Het leven van J.L. de Lorme en zijn familieleden).

First, the life of Claude Jordan, born in the Dauphiné around 1660, is described. He came to Holland as a refugee in 1681. He lived alternately in Leyden and Amsterdam until 1691, when he returned to France. There in later years he either wrote or edited ‘La Clef du cabinet des Princes’ (Journal de Verdun). In 1682 he married Elisabeth le Bret and they had five children, (pp. 14-15).

J.L. de Lorme, who was born around 1665 in Corinthe, married Elisabeth's sister Marie in 1691. In 1693 he took over all the books and the small printing office of his brother-in-law Jordan. For his book trade he took several trips to Paris. In 1709 he was briefly imprisoned in the Bastille. In 1711 he failed to return from Paris, instead he cohabitated there with the widow Pralard. His wife lived in Amsterdam until her death in 1724. To the Walloon Deacons' Chamber was left a quarter of her inheritance, which explains why the papers were kept at the Hospice Wallon. They are now with the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam, (pp. 15-20).

Three of Claude Jordan's children had remained in Holland with their aunt and uncle De

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Lorme. The two sons, Claude and Marc Antoine Jordan, became booksellers. Guillot de Marcilly writes about them and describes how he converted Marc Antoine Jordan to Roman Catholicism in 1715, after which the latter joined his father in France. Claude Jordan went bankrupt in 1718 and died in 1720. (pp. 20-22 and vol. II 209).

In 1716 the daughter, Catherine Philis Jordan, married Emanuel Du Villard, a bookseller from Geneva. Later Du Villard was associated with François Changuion, but in 1721 he returned to Geneva. From 1740 until 1742 his son, Emanuel Du Villard, lived in Amsterdam as a bookseller's apprentice, (pp. 22-23).

Pp. 24-43 Printing office and publishing business of J.L. de Lorme and his relatives (Drukkerij en uitgeverij van J.L. de Lorme en zijn familieleden).

Printing office. Claude Jordan had his own printing office in Leyden and later in Amsterdam. De Lorme must have continued it for a short time, but after a few years he gave up printing and concentrated on publishing an bookselling only. (pp. 24-25).

Publishing business of Claude Jordan. From 1686 until 1688 Jordan published a journal in Leyden called ‘Nouvelles extraordinaires de divers endroits’, a periodical called ‘Histoire abrégée de l'Europe’, and some books. Thereafter he moved to Amsterdam where from late 1688 until late 1690 he published a newspaper named ‘Journal universel’, later called ‘Gazette d'Amsterdam’. In 1691 all French newspapers were prohibited and Jordan left for France. (pp. 25-26).

Publishing business of J.L. de Lorme. Initially he mainly published French pirated editions. From 1696 until 1697 he was associated with Estienne Roger. After 1697 he worked on his own again, though occasionally he published books in association with other booksellers (A. Braakman and P. Mortier of Amsterdam, D. Mortier of London and E. Picart of Paris). From 1700 onwards he published a few books jointly with Joseph t'Serstevens of Brussels, who lived in Amsterdam for some years; funds were provided by the well-known and wealthy book collector H.A. van der Marck. Three publications resulted: the famous Bible of Mons, a French translation of the New Testament by Le Clerc, and the works of Gerson. In 1713 this company was finally liquidated. (pp. 27-30).

Then follows a survey of the most important publications by De Lorme: a pirated edition of the French ‘Memoires pour l'histoire...’ (generally called ‘Journal de Trevoux’) with additions 1701-1705, several works by Jean le Clerc (a professor of Remonstrant theology in Amsterdam), works by Gerberon, Jacques Boileau, Hardouin, François Leguat and Chardin. Many more details about all these publications follow in vol. II. (pp. 30-34). Not much is known about the sales of these books in Holland (most of them in French; a few in Latin), more is known about their sales in France. Related is how they were brought into France, sometimes with the help of Bignon, where they were frequently not allowed (pirated or censored books). (pp. 34-36).

Various details are then given about his connection with the authors Chardin in England, and Dacier and Hardouin in Paris. Jean le Clerc advised him in most of his enterprises. The proof-readers in Holland were French refugees; the names of two of them, both physicians, are known. The illustrators were Dutch, but after 1697 the more important illustrations were done by Bernard Picart of Paris, who came to Amsterdam in 1710. (pp. 36-39).

Some differences between the Dutch and French editions are mentioned. In general, the former were cheaper. Some of De Lorme's publications were pirated by others, and

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several publications were wrongly ascribed to him. Fairly often De Lorme and his relatives published unchanged editions with new title pages. (pp. 39-41).

Publishing business of the brothers Claude and Marc Antoine Jordan. The publishing business of De Lorme's two nephews was of far less importance than his own. Several of their works are mentioned. (pp. 41-42).

Publishing of Emanuel Du Villard. The publishing business of Emanuel Du Villard, their brother-in-law, was more important. From 1718 to 1722 he was associated with François Changuion. As early as 1721, however, he returned to Geneva. He had closer connections with England than his wife's uncle De Lorme. (pp. 42-43).

Pp. 44-58 Book trade of Jean Louis de Lorme (Boekhandel van Jean Louis de Lorme).

Little is known about the book trade of the other members of the family. About the book trade of De Lorme in Holland only a few facts can be given. Good or bad relations with several other Dutch booksellers are mentioned, e.g. he had an unusual amount of trouble with the famous Rotterdam bookseller Leers. Before De Lorme took his place, Leers had for years and years been Bignon's special bookseller in Holland, and had been protected by the latter. A fierce struggle, fought out in 1704, resulted from this competition; since then, De Lorme and Leers were virtual enemies. De Lorme maintained his position in France, but Leers did everything he could to thwart him. (pp. 44-47).

Various items are given about the sales of books printed in France and in Holland, for some of which there was no demand at all, about the lack of bibliographical sources, about book auctions in Holland and about the advertising of books in newspapers and periodicals, in catalogues printed both at the end of books and separately. (pp. 47-51).

Much more is known about De Lorme's trade with France. After 1704 he made several trips to Paris, where booksellers Jean Boudot (father and son) were his agents. They had to obtain the permits required for importing the books into France in wartime. Apart from Paris other cities in the North of France, especially Rouen, were also of importance to De Lorme. (pp. 51-53).

Furthermore De Lorme sold his books to private customers in France. The most important of these was Bignon. As early as 1701 the two had dealt with one another, but from 1707 until 1711 De Lorme was Bignon's special bookseller in Holland, (pp. 54-55).

De Lorme's relations with booksellers of other countries were naturally less important. The few facts known about them are given: Germany, the Southern Netherlands and England. (pp. 55-56).

About the financial side of the business one important fact is stated: in the years 1707 and 1708 his imports into France far exceeded his exports from France. Because of unfavourable rates he did not wish to transfer his gains by letter of exchange. Instead, he tried to buy paper in France for resale in Holland, and published the book by Dacier in Paris at his expense. (pp. 56).

A description of De Lorme's character is given. Then there is an account of the small book trade carried on by his wife after his departure in 1711 until her death in 1724. (pp. 56-58).

Pp. 60-175 Letter-book of Jean Louis de Lorme (Copieboek van Jean Louis de Lorme).

First, there are items about the addressees and excerpts of letters (pp. 60-121).

In an appendix some letters are given in extenso (pp. 123-175).

Some items about the most important addressees follow here:

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Ballard: 5 volumes of Dacier's translations of Horace are printed by him for De Lorme. (p. 60).

Bohm: a German bookseller who works for Rigaud in Paris during this period. Details are given about him and about Gaspar Fritsch, who carry on Leers' business in Rotterdam from 1709 on. (p. 64).

Boileau: data about his importation into France of a book published by De Lorme. (p. 65, corrected vol. II, p. 146 and p. 166).

Boudot: agent of De Lorme in Paris. His relations with the printing office of Trevoux are mentioned. (p. 66).

Clement: assistant at the Royal Library, for which De Lorme provides books. The theft of manuscripts by Aymon is mentioned. (p. 76).

Dacier: De Lorme publishes his translation of Horace. (p. 78).

Desprez: data about the sale of the Bible of Mons, printed by De Lorme in Amsterdam, to Desprez, who has the privilege in France. (p. 80).

Etienne: formerly ‘facteur’ at Jean Boudot's, and still maintaining relations with him and with the printing office of Trevoux. (p. 84).

Fraguier, S.J.: his intervention in the quarrels between De Lorme and Hardouin. (p. 88).

Fritsch (G.): his travels in Germany, from 1709 onwards associated with Bohm in Rotterdam. (p. 90).

Ganeau: arrival from Trevoux at Paris, where he continues to lead the Trevoux printing office. (p. 90).

Hardouin: De Lorme publishes his works in Amsterdam during these years. (p. 93).

Hôpital (marquise de l'): intervention of De Lorme on her behalf in some difficulties she has with Leers about books written by her late husband (p. 95).

Leers: items about Leers' book trade, especially in France. (p. 100).

Marck (Van der): De Lorme writes from Paris about the sale of the publications financed by Van der Marck. (p. 104).

Mortier (D.): De Lorme writes about their joint publication of Leguat's travels. (p. 107).

Picart: De Lorme writes about illustrations for his publications. (p. 109).

Quillau: 5 volumes of Dacier's translations of Horace are printed by him for De Lorme (p. 110).

Tournemine, S.J.: the editor of the ‘Journal de Trevoux’. De Lorme sends him books for editing purposes. (p. 118).

Varenne (De): a French bookseller in London with whom De Lorme quarrels. (p. 118).

Vienne (De): thought to be a fictitious name (p. 120, corrected vol. II p. 10).

Vol. II Publications of Jean Louis de Lorme and his relatives (Uitgaven van Jean Louis de Lorme en familieleden)

Pp. 7-24 The Introduction (Inleiding) describes the contents of volume II. It mainly consists of a bibliography of all the books found that have some connection with De Lorme himself or with his relatives: 135 numbers are listed. An account is given of the different kinds of books to be distinguished:

I Own publications: 1. books with own imprint; 2. joint publications with other publishers, in which the partners are either named on the title page or are given an individual title page with their own imprint; 3. books without mention of publisher or with a neutral imprint (e.g., ‘amis de l'auteur’); 4. books with a fictitious publisher (e.g., Pierre

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Marteau); 5. reprints under the name of the original publisher, occasionally with the annotation ‘suivant la copie de...’; 6. books issued under other publishers' imprints with their permission; 7. unchanged editions with new title page under own imprint; 8. unchanged editions with new title page under the imprints of other publishers.

II Works of other publishers: 1. Unchanged editions either with new title pages or with labels bearing new imprints pasted over the original imprint with the name of De Lorme or of one of his relatives; 2. editions (mainly foreign) with the name of De Lorme or of one of his relatives, without previous permission; 3. editions (domestic and foreign) with the name of De Lorme or of one of his relatives, with previous permission; 4. reprints of De Lorme's or of his relatives' publications (domestic and foreign), using his or their name, without permission. (pp. 7-8).

A general review follows, stating locations and explaining why all the books announced in advertisements by De Lorme and his relatives are included, even though some books did not bear their imprint. (pp. 8-12).

The books of which so far no copy has been found are listed, to enable others to trace them. (Just after the publication of vol. II, the second edition of no. 93 was acquired from an antiquarian bookdealer) (pp. 12-13).

A survey of the particulars given under each number follows: title in italics, location in ordinary print, items about advertisements, reviews, prices, confiscations etc. in small print. Since many of the earlier publications of De Lorme and his relatives were pirated ones, particulars about the original editions and their publishers are given, also in small print. Occasionally, again in small print, details about later reprints and pirated editions published by others are furnished. Next, once more in ordinary print, all sort of particulars about the book follow (relation author-publisher etc.). (pp. 13-19).

A description is given of the research in general and some examples are quoted of the discoveries made by studying the entire collection of editions published by this family. (pp. 19-23).

A brief explanation of the nine appendices follows. (pp. 23-24).

Pp. 25-260 Publications (Uitgaven) consists of a bibliography of 135 numbers. Numerous details about the numbers 81, 82, 85 and 86 emerge from the letters.

Pp. 261-272 Appendices (Bijlagen).

Advertisements of Jean Louis de Lorme and of his relatives in the Gazette and in the Amsterdamse Courant (1695-1719) are given in extenso or in excerpt. (pp. 261-265).

A current account of J.L. de Lorme and of D. de la Feuille for the years 1694-1712 is quoted in extenso. (pp. 265-267).

The agreement of the most important booksellers of Amsterdam, Leyden, Rotterdam, the Hague and Utrecht concerning the Latin and the French trade, dated March 8, 1710 is quoted in extenso. (pp. 268-269).

The contract of partnership of Emanuel Du Villard and François Changuion of March 19, 1718, and the deed of liquidation of March 23, 1722 are quoted in extenso. (pp. 269-272).

Vol. III Items about the makers, their international relations and the publications A-M (Gegevens over de vervaardigers, hun internationale relaties en de uitgaven A-M)

Pp. 7-11 The Introduction (Inleiding) gives a survey of the contents of the volumes III and

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IV. These contain a short history of all persons in any way concerned with the production of French books in Amsterdam between 1680 and 1725. Evidently, many items dating from before and after this period had to be given here. People from French-speaking countries who were in any way employed in the book trade are included. It was impossible to cover all Amsterdam booksellers, as they were too numerous; taking the French ones as a starting-point was the only way of avoiding an arbitrary choice. In any case, all booksellers of importance for the trade in French and Latin books are included.

The items on a person are always divided into Life (Leven) (name, age, wife, religion, and some more general details), Residence (Adressen) (owned or rented house), Book trade (Boekhandel) and Publishing business (Uitgeverij). Two headings were used in the case of a bookseller, and a combined heading for Printing office and publishing business in the case of a printer. It was not possible to state all the publications the way Kossmann tried to do for the Hague. Only those publications were included about which some new facts were found. The last heading Particulars (Bijzonderheden) gives miscellaneous items, including (for the most important publishing houses) a short history of the continuation of the house. Pp. 13-271 contain the alphabetical survey of makers A-M.

Vol. IV Items about the makers, their international relations, and the publications N-W, Paper trade, Printing offices and Booksellers in general (Gegevens over de vervaardigers, hun internationale relaties en de uitgaven N-W, Papierhandel, Drukkerijen en Boekverkopers in het algemeen)

Pp. 7-11 The Introduction (Inleiding) gives a survey of the three additional subjects.

Pp. 13-191 continue the alphabetical list of makers N-W.

Pp. 195-258 deal with paper merchants, paper factors or agents, paper shopkeepers and paper brokers, in the same way as was dealt with the makers, but less detailed.

Pp. 258-272 give items about taxes on paper levied occasionally between 1671 and 1750.

Pp. 272-275 give items about sales of printing offices and type foundries from 1685 to 1768.

Pp. 275-276 give some of the very rare particulars known about the agreements between the most important printing offices.

Pp. 276-279 give the names of the principal members of the guild as known from three petitions of 1674 and 1678, the names of the officially appointed arbiters from 1677-1716, and the names of the syndics of the guild from 1662-1807.

Vol. V The book trade of the Republic of the United Netherlands 1572-1795 (De boekhandel van de Republiek 1572-1795)

Pp. 7-9 The Introduction (Inleiding) explains why the original plan was not carried out. A description of the book trade of France, Germany and England at this moment would be superfluous because of the many new studies published on the subject since 1960. Instead a survey of the book trade in the Low Countries from 1572 to 1795 is given; it deals with Latin and French works in particular. This is of course a very provisional survey, as many sources still wait to be exploited. Some details required special study. Six subjects assumed such proportions that they had to be placed in Appendices (I-VI). Appendix VII is added in order to give a more complete picture of the members of the Amsterdam guild during the main period 1680-1725. Finally there is an enumeration of surveys and indices for all five volumes.

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Pp. 11-128 The book trade of the Republic 1572-1795 (De boekhandel van de Republiek 1572-1795) is divided into four parts.

I Sources, literature and possibilities (Bronnen, literatuur en mogelijkheden) gives a survey of the situation at the present moment (pp. 13-16).

II Organization (Organisatie) is subdivided into two parts: Official regulations (Overheidsregelingen) and Trade customs (Usanties) (pp. 17-73).

First, local regulations are dealt with. The guilds and their charters are viewed on the basis of a charter projected in 1761 by the bookseller Scheurleer of the Hague. Whenever possible numbers of guild members are given. (pp. 17-22).

National and provincial regulations include import and export duties, with their proceeds about which but little data remain, the censorship, which, notwithstanding several attempts, was never preventive, and the privileges. The latter, of which extensive data appear in Appendices II and III, are briefly summarized here. (pp. 22-28).

The far more important second part of the Organization, the Trade customs, is subdivided into six sections: Copy (Copie), Paper (Papier), Printing offices etc. (Drukkerijen etc.), Cost-accounting and subscription (Onkostenberekening en intekening), Sale (Afzet) and Capital (Kapitaal), about which miscellaneous items had to be given (pp. 28-73).

Copy, containing items on the authors, especially in Holland, and on the other producers in the book trade, also gives a more general survey of the customs concerning copyright which were an extension of the privileges. At the end of the 17th century the typically Dutch custom of establishing copyright by a mere newspaper advertisement came into force. (pp. 28-34).

Paper is divided into manufacture, trade, and investments by the paper merchants in the book trade. For the manufacture in the Republic reference is made to the publications of Voorn and Hardonk, for the trade much research remains to be done. For the investments vol. IV is referred to, although mention is made of some earlier and later cases, e.g. the investments of Lockhorst in the trade of Cornelis Claesz. (p. 34-39).

Printing offices etc. begin with some general remarks about printing. Because of the absence of preventive censorship, very little is known about this subject. A typical feature of Dutch printing is that only the very important booksellers had their own printing offices (see vol. II 85, information by Leti). The others engaged either these offices or the minor independent printers. Some details about the former are given: Blaeu, Elsevier, Athias-Schippers and Huguetan. Then two obscure minor printing offices are dealt with: Jallasson (only a short period), and Eel (1731-1798) who printed many French books. The firm of Arkstee and Merkus was the only one of the later French booksellers in Amsterdam which had a printing office of its own. Then some of the scarce items available about the conditions of the journeyman printers are mentioned. An interesting petition of 1670 made it possible to give a survey of the 17th-century printing office of Janssonius-Van Biesen in Arnhem, which produced many German books. Then follows a short survey of the history of the type foundries of Amsterdam, the complete story of which is told in Appendix V. About the book bindery only a few items could be given. (pp. 39-49).

Cost-accounting could be illustrated by some examples from the Luchtmans archives. The subscription, which in Holland was probably started by the Leyden bookseller Van der Aa, is a subject which still requires much research. (pp. 49-51).

Sale presents many different aspects. Those dealt with here are the advertisements which, starting from 1621, appeared in the various newspapers, and the announcements in the

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periodicals. Important was the exchange of sheets (barter), later of books, which more or less evolved into the current accounts of the 18th century. Then follows a description of the use and meaning of the new word uitgever (publisher), and of the direct sale to private customers. Finally the bibliographies, composed by Goetzee, Noordbeek, Van Abkoude and De Wit are dealt with. (pp. 51-59).

Capital deals in the first place with the merchandise (koopwaar), the most important of which are the English bibles, the Roman Catholic church-books and the Jewish church-books, printed in huge numbers for the foreign market and sold wholesale. The funds were mainly provided by merchants outside the common book trade. It then deals with the books which had to be sold by the national and by the international book trade. Various kinds of moneylenders are enumerated. Next, the far more important internal capital provided by the book trade is dealt with. The payments in instalments without interest, which were typical for the Dutch book trade and which were closely related to the system of wholesale stock auctions, are described in Appendix IV. The financial situation of some of the well-known booksellers is given: Daniel Elsevier in 1681, a year after his death, Samuel Luchtmans in 1714, and Henry Desbordes upon his death in 1722. A short survey of the situation of the Amsterdam booksellers in 1742 follows, as well as a list of bankruptcies from 1742 until 1775. Official loans (schepenenkennissen) from outside the book trade became more and more customary during the second half of the 18th century. These loans, which gave greater security to the lenders, were more expensive than the former internal loans; the general shortage of money was probably the cause of this new custom. (pp. 59-73).

III The Chronological survey (Chronologisch overzicht) is divided into three parts: the periods 1572-1680, 1680-1725, and 1725-1795 (pp. 75-104).

Period 1572-1680. The rise of the book trade is described, first in the university town of Leyden, then in Amsterdam (Cornelis Claesz, the international combination Bonnenuit-Commelin and Blaeu). In Amsterdam an Athenaeum is founded in 1632 and Louis Elsevier comes to this town in 1638, both facts in connection with the more liberal Remonstrant ideas. The catalogues of Broer Jansz (1639-1650) show the important part played by the Amsterdam book trade in those days. The dominant role of the Dutch booksellers in Frankfurt (Blaeu's also in Vienna) and that of the Janssonius-Van Waesberge family in Frankfurt and in the rest of Germany is dealt with. As regarding France, reference is made to the study by Martin. Some more items about the trade of Blaeu and Schipper are given. One of the most important Dutch booksellers was Adriaan Vlack, who lived in Londen from 1633 to 1642, in Paris from 1642 tot 1648, and finally in the Hague. Then follows a description of the contacts, good and bad, between some Dutch and English booksellers. The sale of English bibles printed in Holland probably took place outside the ordinary trade. In 1680 Daniel Elsevier died, almost bankrupt, and his death - also according to his contemporaries - marked the end of a period. (pp. 75-83).

Period 1680-1725 With the big auction of Elsevier's wholesale stock amongst the booksellers in 1681 a new era begins, for which the novel conditions create the setting. Instalment payments without interest, introduced after the death of Cornelis Claesz in 1609, now reach their zenith (see Appendix IV). A new kind of trading, the companies, become the vogue. The Leyden bookseller Van der Aa starts his battle against the Amsterdam ‘Magnificat’, which finally produces the resolution about the privileges issued in 1715 by

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the States of the Province of Holland. The religious events in France and the arrival of the refugees are of special significance for the book trade, as at this time the hegemony of the Latin book is replaced by that of the French book. It is not so much the arrival of a number of French booksellers (of whom the most important are the Huguetan family from Lyons) as that of all sorts of potential manpower (e.g. Bayle) that is of major consequence for the Dutch book trade. The trade of De Lorme is depicted against the background of the ordinary book trade, and the importance of his efforts, though short-lived, to promote the entry into France of Dutch publications (with the help of Bignon) is emphasized. In these times of war relations with French booksellers are more difficult to maintain than before. Martin's study is again referred to. With Switzerland, where especially in Geneva a new generation of enterprising booksellers has established itself, relations are also close, probably due to the Huguetan family. Of course, these newcomers are also competitors. In Germany the Leipzig Fair, besides that of Frankfurt, becomes more and more important for the Dutch booksellers. Reversely, the Leipzig booksellers try to get an entry into Holland by acquiring the wholesale stock of the famous Rotterdam bookseller Leers in 1709. However, this attempt failed. In England, where the wars had made direct contact with France impossible, the Dutch booksellers acting as intermediaries obtained even more foothold than before. Several Dutch booksellers went to live in London. (pp. 83-93).

Period 1725-1795 An important, exclusively Dutch, book trade is established with the arrival of Isaac Tirion in 1727. The direct influence of the French refugees comes to an end. The Hague bookseller Pierre Gosse with his speculative undertakings (especially wholesale auctions) disturbs the Dutch international book-market during the second quarter of the century. Marc Michel Rey, of Swiss origin and living in Amsterdam, is the most important representative of the French book trade in Holland (1744-1780). Shortly after his death it is found that a mere remnant of this trade is left in Holland.

In other countries (France, Germany and England) opposition to the Dutch system of privileges occurs. For France reference is made to the many recent publications on the subject. Here only the events of 1722, 1723 and 1771, which caused considerable commotion in Holland, are dealt with. Relations, good as well as bad, with the French part of Switzerland and subsequently with the German part are dealt with. In Frankfurt the Van Duren family of the Hague is the last representative of the Dutch booksellers. More important are the Amsterdam booksellers Mortier-Schreuder and Arkstee & Merkus in Leipzig. Notwithstanding fierce opposition of German competitors they succeed in maintaining their position. For England many names are given of Dutch booksellers living in London or having a branch there, the last being the Société Typographique de St. James' Street. However, the English bookseller John Nourse is of far greater importance than they are for the import of the continental books.

Reviews by contemporaries on the Dutch international book trade are summed up: they are De La Barre de Beaumarchais, 1738, De Sérionne, 1766, ‘De Koopman’, 1775, Tydeman, 1778, and Luzac, 1781. Luzac is the first to deplore the decline of the foreign book trade of his country.

Meanwhile, publishers of exclusively Dutch books have become far more important. The leading bookseller is Johannes Allart, who moves from Amsterdam to the Hague in 1812 where he settles as a publisher, having given up his book trade. (pp. 93-104).

IV Notes (Noten) (pp. 105-128).

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Pp. 129-352 Appendices (Bijlagen)
I The archives of the Leyden booksellers Luchtmans (Het archief van de Leidse boekverkopers Luchtmans).

These archives are of vital importance for the history of the Dutch book trade of the 18th century, since no other archives have been preserved. A survey of the most interesting documents and volumes is given. Five successive generations were booksellers (1683-1850). The balance sheets of 1714, 1747 and 1810, etc. present a general picture of this trade. The costs of some new publications are accounted for in the same volumes as those of the books acquired at the wholesale auctions (1706-1806). Two cost accounts of new publications are reproduced in extenso, and the wholesale stock auctions of the major Amsterdam booksellers are listed (1706-1754), whereas the Blaeu auction of 1706 is also given in extenso. Next, the series of volumes pertaining to debts of private customers (burgerschuldboeken) are dealt with. By far the most important is the series of ledgers of the booksellers (1697-1848) in which every bookseller has his own current account (boekverkopersboeken). Some details about the Amsterdam booksellers have been taken from those books. The same procedure is followed for the paper merchants, for the foreign booksellers, and finally for some miscellaneous items. Current accounts of De Lorme, Jordan, and Du Villard are reproduced in extenso, as well as the valuation of books at the beginning of 1710 as a result of the booksellers agreement (see vol. II, p. 268). (pp. 131-177).

II Pieter van der Aa, a Leyden bookseller (1677-1730), and the conflict about the privileges (Pieter van der Aa, boekverkoper te Leiden (1677-1730) en de strijd om de privileges).

Pieter van der Aa, a contempary of the first Luchtmans, was in a way a predecessor of this family as a holder of various official functions in Leyden. A short description of his life and work is given, followed by an extensive survey of the conflict with his colleagues in Holland. With the aid of the Leyden Pensionary he tried to obtain privileges from the States of Holland for his various large series of publications, sometimes successfully, sometimes in vain. The conflict resulted in the agreement of 1710, reached by 54 booksellers in the provinces of Holland and Utrecht, which was certainly aimed against Van der Aa, and then in the resolution concerning the privileges issued by the States of Holland in 1715. (pp. 179-191).

III Privileges in the province of Holland and West-Friesland (Privileges in de provincie Holland en West-Friesland).

During the last part of the 16th century both the States-General and the States of Holland used to extend privileges. As the privileges of the States-General were valid throughout the Republic, and the privileges of the States of Holland only in that province, the demand for the latter dwindled to almost nothing. A conflict about the official bible translation of the States-General (Statenbijbel) resulted in the refusal by the States of Holland to recognize the privilege of the States-General for their province. Consequently, a new custom became the vogue. From then on, privileges of the States-General were not recognized in the province of Holland until the States of Holland had given their ‘attache’. As from 1637 the privileges of Holland became more and more important, whereas in the course of the century there was less and less demand for the privileges of the States-General.

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The later history of the privileges in Holland is then related. On this matter there were only two resolutions, in 1686 and in 1715. In the period between, the practice grew to send petitions for privileges to the most important towns to obtain the advice of the guilds, but even then many controversies remained. Conflicts of such major importance that they were mentioned in the resolutions of the States of Holland are reported on.

Then the various aspects of the privileges are dealt with: censorship; applicants from Holland and West-Friesland; applicants from outside the province (as from 1715 foreigners were excluded); motives for the application; extension of privileges; costs of petition (the privilege itself was free); formulation; announcement of privileges on behalf of other booksellers; school-books and church-books which were entirely excluded from the privileges as from 1715; prints and maps which were excluded for the greater part; prosecution of infringements in Amsterdam 1658-1763. (pp. 193-236, and a short survey pp. 26-28).

IV Auctions (Aucties).

A general introduction is given, followed by a survey of all the Dutch towns which were of importance for the auctions. At the end of the 16th century the first book auctions were held in Leyden. Contrary to other towns, here the bookseller-auctioneer was entitled to handle the auctioneer's hammer. Other towns employed an official ‘afslager’, ‘vendumeester’ or ‘erfhuismeester’, Leyden the bookseller-‘opveiler’. The auctions held in Leyden in the first quarter of the 17th century were of national, even international, fame. Many regulations were made, and the Leyden booksellers' guild even ows its existence to the auctions, as the syndics originally acted as auction supervisors. Similarly to what happened in the other towns, severe restrictions were made to protect the book trade. Permissions for auctioning were generally given after decease and, in the case of a bookseller, also after closing down the shop. In the last quarter of the 17th century every Leyden bookseller was allowed a wholesale stock auction once a year. Leyden always kept a great reputation for the auctions of libraries of well-known scholars. For wholesale stock auctions, however, it never had much importance.

The Hague where, like in Leyden, auctions were started by the Elsevier family has an equally complicated story, as described in part by Kossmann in his three publications. During the 18th century it likewise grew important because of its wholesale stock auctions, especially of Latin and French books.

The Utrecht auctions actually formed part of the entire Dutch auction system. Groningen, where also many book auctions were held, lay too far from the centre to play any part. Consequently a short survey of the Utrecht regulations, especially for the wholesale stock auctions, is given, and Groningen is omitted.

Amsterdam, where the auctions started in the beginning of the 17th century, was by far the most important town for wholesale stock auctions. The auctions at the death of Cornelis Claesz in 1610 supply the first evidence of instalment payments in proportion to the sum spent. It is known that shortly afterwards only booksellers were admitted to them. As far as possible the development of the technique of those auctions is described. A new era begins with the wholesale stock auction of 1681 after the death of Daniel Elsevier. Regulations concerning permissions were much stricter than in Leyden. Not until 1769 did Amsterdam follow the example of Leyden in the 17th century to allow every member of the guild a yearly wholesale stock auction.

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This alleviation of the regulations was obviously not enough, for in the 18th century, to start with 1700, a new phenomenon occurs: wholesale stock auctions were increasingly held in the countryside and in Delft, where no booksellers' guild with strict regulations existed. The Luchtmans archives present the clearest picture of the importance of these auctions. The special conditions of instalment payments without interest (a booksellers obligation was a well-known concept) are disappearing in the course of the second quarter of the 18th century. The endless length of instalments is reduced to the fairly usual two years' period with four instalments. (pp. 237-274).

V Type foundries in Amsterdam (Lettergieterijen te Amsterdam).

This chronological survey of the Amsterdam type foundries and type cutters has been included here as a supplement to H. Carter's translation of Enschedé's ‘Fonderies de caractères’, for which extensive research had been done at the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam. A shorter survey is given under the head Drukkerijen etc. (pp. 64-65). Between the 17th and the 18th centuries a great difference exists. The former has the independent type cutters-type founders, amongst whom Christoffel van Dijck is the most famous. In the latter the type foundries, owned by important booksellers or amateurs, commissioning independent cutters, become usual. Fleischmann, who like Van Dijck was born in Germany, is the most important cutter of this period, and also, due to the changed style, the renovator, (pp. 275-304).

VI Companies in Amsterdam (Compagnieën te Amsterdam).

Companies having a longer duration and working with several partners can be distinguished in two sorts: companies for a single major publication, and companies for the publishing of a variety of books. The former sort is, from a financial point of view, often more important than the latter, but because of their large number it is not possible to deal with them all. Details are given about the oldest of them, the company for the Corpus Juris, which was established in Amsterdam and in Leyden in 1661, and about two 18th-century companies dealing with publications published by subscription. Reference is also made to a third, the company of Moreri-Bayle. The partners of those companies often lived in different towns.

Next, all the Amsterdam companies of the latter sort are dealt with: the first company of important booksellers publishing church-books (1675-1686), the second company of this kind of less important booksellers and bookbinders (1680-1961), the so-called Blaeu company or Latin company (1682-1706), and the company for the liquidation of the wholesale stock of the widow Schippers (1682-around 1690). Thereupon some smaller companies are mentioned, which did not last long. The company Vis Unita Major (‘Compagnie des Libraires’) follows, which originated in the conflict with Van der Aa, and in the booksellers agreement of 1710. It was notorious for its pirated editions ‘aux dépens de la Société’, mainly of French books. After its liquidation in 1738 the imprint was still used quite often for pirated editions. Then there were some companies, mainly dealing with Dutch books, of which the name corresponded to the number of their partners. At the end of the century a rather insignificant company with partners in Amsterdam, Leyden, Rotterdam and Utrecht, publishing French books, could be signalized by a few publications (1786-1788). The last large company, with partners in Amsterdam, Leyden, Dordrecht and Harlingen, took over part of the important series of

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Dutch publications by the late Tirion and was active from 1779 to 1806. (pp. 305-334).

VII Members of the booksellers' guild of Amsterdam, 1688-1742 (Leden van het boekverkopersgilde te Amsterdam 1688-1742).

Two lists are given: one of 1688 with items about the members' citizenship, and one of the members on the basis of the annual payments to the guild 1700-1739, with particulars from the assessment list of 1742 (pp. 335-352).

In conclusion the following items are given: Summary, Survey of reviews (Overzicht recensies), Survey of literature consulted (Overzicht gebruikte literatuur), Errata and addenda (Errata en addenda), List of abreviations (Lijst van afkortingen), and four indices: Index of Geographical names (Plaatsnamen), of Proper names (Persoonsnamen), of Subjects (Onderwerpen) and of Books (Boeken).