[In the most luxurious antique colouring] De Republyk der Hebreen,

of Gemeenebest der Joden. In drie boeken, door den geleerden heer Petrus Cunaeus (...) in 't Latijn beschreven: en nu voor d'eerste maal vertaald, met naaukeurige printverbeeldingen en inlassingen verrijkt, door een liefhebber der Joodsche oudheden [= W. Goeree]./ (...) onder de wet der ceremoniën en dienstbaar Jeruzalem, vervolgd op de drie boeken van de heer Petrus Cunaeus./ Derde deel, of tweede vervolgh (...) onder de priester-ordening en ceremonien der offerhanden in 't dienstbaar jeruzalem. Amsterdam, W. Goeree, 1682-1683, 3 volumes, (32),518,(26); (24),558,(24); (40,495,(32) p., with 3 engraved frontispieces and 45 engraved plates by Jan Luiken and others, all but one in VERY FINE CONTEMPORARY HANDCOLOURING mostly HEIGHTENED WITH GOLD AND GUM, more than half of the plates folding and/ or double-page, one image with movable flap, 18th-century uniform leather, ribbed and gilt back with morocco letterpieces, all edges gilt.

Volume 1 has been expertly rebacked using the original backstrip, the other volumes with reinforced spine ends. A good, complete set (incl. the two follow-ups to the main part), with the plates in the most exclusive form of colouring by a professional "afsetter", possibly Dirk Jansz. Van Santen (1637/38-1708). The connection between Van Santen and Willem Goeree has been examined before, with for example the colouring of a copy of Goeree's work Mosaize historie der hebreeuwse kerke (so with subject similar to our copy) (4 volumes, 1700) being attributed to Van Santen. At the exhibition "Op zoek naar Van Santen & de kleuren van de Gouden Eeuw" (Universiteitsbibliotheek Amsterdam, 2015-2016), the handcoloured three-part copy of De Republyk der Hebreen from the collection of Meermanno was displayed (Jaarverslag Meermanno 2015). Finally, it may be remarked that Willem Goerree is of course also known for his Verlichtery-konst in de welcke den rechten grondt, ende volkomen gebruyck der water-verwen, first published in 1668, an adaptation of a work by Geerard ter Brugge (total 3 volumes).