Furnius, P.J. (ca. 1545-1610). Complete series of six allegories on the course of human life

Six numb. engravings, each approx. 22 x 30 cm, after Jan van der Straet (1523-1605), all monogrammed "PF" (the first "PF fe.", the signature of Van der Straet (Ioannes Stradanus) as inventor in diff. forms and the address "H. Cock excud(ebat) 1570"; each w, 6-line Latin verse below the image in the plates. Very fine contemp. impressions on paper w. unidentified sm. watermarks thread margins and emargined (probably in the 18th cent.) to fit in a larger collection of prints in bookform (see prints by Collaert after Van der Straet taken from the same volume elsewhere in this auction). The first two prints with old manuscript captions below, margins foxed, and a few sm. foxed spots in the prints themselves. A very fine and rare complete set. Hollstein 31-36.

The artist is also known as Pierre Dufour, Pierre Jalhea de Foere and variants, the artist worked in Antwerp in Plantin's printing office during the years 1563-1571.