Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Havercamp, Sigebert. Medailles de grand et moyen bronze du cabinet de la reine Christine … – Nummophylacium Reginae Christinae quod comprehendit numismata aerea imperatorum romanorum, latina, graeca, atque in coloniis cusa.

2 titles in red and black. With title vignette (repeated) drawn and engr. by F. v. Bleyswick, some engr. head and end pieces, and with 63 plates engraved by Pietro Sante Bartolo. (6) leaves, 464 pp. Folio. Mod. gray cloth with spine label. – La Haye, Pierre de Hondt, 1742.

First and only edition of this bilingual description of the collection of coins of the queen Christina of Sweden (1626–1689), daughter of Gustav Adolf. Called “Pallas Suecia”, she greatly influenced scholars like Hugo Grotius or René Descartes who admired her sense for both science and arts. Havercamp (Utrecht 1683–1743 Leyden) was professor at Leyden University from 1721 on and had a broad knowledge in numismatics. The engraver of the present plates, the Perugia born Pietro Santo Bartoli (1635–1700) was antiquarian to both queen Christina and Benedetto Odescalchi (1611–1689) who became Pope in 1676 under the name of Innocence XI. – Brunet III, 62; Ebert 9328; Hoefer XXIII, 619f.; Lipsius 178. – Dampstained in parts. – Best.-Nr. 5694