Beschreibung:

17th century Album Amicorum.- Giese (Raban, scholar and medical doctor, native of Danzig, 1597-1673) Album Amicorum of Giese drawing on his travels and acquaintances in Geneva, Lyon, Paris and London 1618-21, 134 watercolour illustrations of men and women including c. 60 professional watercolour miniatures, some heightened in gold, together 215pp. excluding blanks of signatures and inscriptions, 1f. with small tear in lower margin, some illustrations with surface wear, slightly foxed and browned throughout, later ink ownership signature of ?J Ringer and small remains of bookplate on front pastedown, original gilt morocco, central gilt floral device and 4 pomegranate corner-pieces within a two-line gilt borders, slightly rubbed, gilt gauffered edges, 86 x 110mm., 1618-39. ⁂ A very fine early 17th century Album Amicorum compiled by a young man from Danzig. Giese has perhaps been at university in Geneva and may have made a tour of parts of Europe on his return home to Danzig. He travelled to Geneva, Lyon, Paris and London, and while staying in the English capital would probably have stayed at the Steelyard, the home of the Hanseatic community in England. Giese was probably presented at court and acquired inscriptions and signatures from some of the most influential people at the court of James I. In particular the evidence of the inscription of the Duke of Buckingham who describes Giese as his "truly and inestimable friend", and whose influence included the king, would have been sufficient to open many doors to the young man. Other signatures were from travelling companions, friends and acquaintances that he met on his way. Many of the signatories show the connection with the cities of the Hanseatic League of northern German States, and the fluency of their trilingual skills in the use of German, French and Latin. The professional miniatures are of high quality and depict numerous coats of arms, scenes of processions, and single figures of a soldier, a jouster and religious. The women are portrayed wearing elaborate ruffs and farthingales, a fashion dating from the 1590's to the 1620's. Signatures, mottoes and illustrations include: (1). James VI & I. Parcere subiectis, et debellare superbos [spare the conquered and conquer the proud], dated 1620, possibly a later copy of the motto and signature. (2). 2 watercolour roundels depicting the coat of arms of Raban Ghiese and his mother. (3). Signature of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, vray amy tresor inestimable. (4). Signature of Edward Wray (1589-1658), courtier and politician; friend of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham; Groom of the Bedchamber to James I. (5). Signature of James Hamilton Marquis of Hamilton. Close associate of the Duke of Buckingham. Je suis de la partie. (6). Signature of Sir Benjamin Rudyerd (1572-1658), politician and poet. Omni solum forti Patria. (7). Signature of Sir Thomas Hatton, of Corfe Castle; courtier. (8). Signature of Philippe de Mornay (1549-1623), seigneur du Plessis Marly, usually known as Du-Plessis-Mornay or Mornay Du Plessis; French Protestant writer. (9). Signature and inscription of Anne Englishe. Live well and dye never/dye well and live ever. (10). Signature of Johann Christian Beneckendorff. (11). Signature of Petrus van der Burche. (12). Signature of Salomons Ulisus, with professional watercolour miniature of a jousting horseman tilting at a quintain. (13). Professional watercolour miniature of a baptism procession in Geneva. (14). Le Chatimant d'un Cornart, et de sa Famme a Padove, professional watercolour miniature of a cuckold and his wife being beaten in Padua. (15). Professional watercolour miniature of a very early depiction of a Southern Cassowary, probably traded from southern New Guinea. (16). Signature of Henry Wriothesley, third Earl of Southampton; Shakespeare's patron. (17). Signature of George Calvert, first Baron Baltimore (1579/80-1632), courtier and colonist.