Tempesta, A. (1555-1630) after O. van Veen (1556-1629). De Batavische ofte Hollandtsche oorloghe

teghen de Romeynen. Batavorum cum Romanis Bellum, a Corn. Tacito lib. IV. & V. Hist. olim descriptum, figuris nunc aeneis expressum. Antw., the author, 1612, letterpress title-p. w. introd. verso, followed by 36 etched plates by Antonio Tempesta after Van Veen, each plate w. caption in Dutch and Latin below the image, and w. juxtaposed letterpress text in Latin (all these w. complete translation in French in pen below (and many also above) the printed area), contemp. calf, gilt and ribbed spine, obl. 4to. The title-p. w. various signs, letters and numbers in pen obscuring the words "A Corn." to "Hist." (possibly a cryptic annotation by a previous owner) and sm. annotation "gravé par Tempesta". Plate 29 and opposite textp. badly stained, brown stain in blank lower margin throughout, waterst. in upper outer corner at the end. Backstrip loosening and dam., outer corners bumped. First edition of this series of fine etchings by Antonio Tempesta after drawings by Otto van Veen, court painter of Alessandro Farnese. The work illustrates Tacitus's account of the revolt of Gaius Julius Civilis against Rome in 69-70 AD. The first, circular plate (the personifications of Rome and Batavia shaking hands on the battlefield), is signed "Ant. Tempesta f. Anno 1611".