Pastorals.

Oblong sm. 4to, 16 engr. plt, of which 6 signed in pl. and 5 numbered (browning, marg. dampstaining in corners, sm. single wormhole in t.-p., sm. ears in pl. 9 and 12 sl. affecting the image).

Vellum, blind decorated covers, gilt. title "Inventiones" on front cover (some sm. brown stains).

Very rare and early edition of these nice pastoral scenes by the Dutch engraver A. Bloemaert (1564-1651). The title is signed “Abraham Blomaert Inuen. I.C. fecit” (not in Hollstein as such – only a later printing by his son Cornelis Bloemaert (1603-1684), who was active in Rome). These plates are probably rare Roman copies after the orig. pls. by C. Bloemaert, given their mirrored orientation. On the title engraving a Latin poem in 3 distichs signed “H. de Roÿ”. Each plate with a single Latin distich (unsigned).
Ref. Hollstein II:27-42.