Colour Plate & Illustrated
HOLLAR, Wenceslaus.
Theatru[m] mulierum sive varietas atq. differentia habituum foeminei sexus di uersorum Europae nationum hodierno tempore vulgo in usu, a Wenceslao Hollar, etc. Bohemo delineatae et aqua forti aeri sculptae Londini A 1643.
Laurie & Whittle, London. n.d. circa 1795. 8vo., engraved title and forty-eight engraved plates of costumes and habits, all but three of which are of women, each with title in English and Latin. Contemporary wrappers, contained in modern half-morocco book box.
A fine later example of Wenceslaus Hollar's 'Theatru(m) Mulierum', a depiction of the familiar costumes of the women of Europe. Examples include 'An English Lady of quality' ('Nobilis Mulier Anglica'), 'a Machanicks wife of Paris' ('Opificis Parisiensis Uxor'), 'an Irish Woman' ('Mulier Hibernica'), 'a Laysister of the Order of St. Clare' ('Laica Soror Ord. St. Clarae'). Of perhaps greater interest in a book about the costume of women are the three plates of the costume of men: 'a Regular Cannon of the Order of Premonstratum' ('Canonicus Regularis Ord. Praemonstratensis'), 'A Carthusian' ('Carthusianus'), and 'a Norbortine Monk of the Order of Praemonstratentium' ('Norbertini Ordinis Praemonstratesis'). Hollar had engraved the original plates in the early 1640s and there were a number of subsequent editions, issued as the plates changed hands. "Ces planches de seconde émission ont les legendes en latin et en anglais, ou en latin et en allemand." (Colas). This copy, despite Colas' comment, is from a later edition. Laurie and Whittle had been assistants to Robert Sayer and had set up on their own in 1794. Brunet Vol. III, 264; Colas I, 1466.
Price: £ 1500
US Dollar Price: $ 2260
Stock Number: 66185