Lot 173: DAHLBERG, Erik Jonsson, Count (1625-1703). Suecia antiqua et hodierna. [Stockholm

DAHLBERG, Erik Jonsson, Count (1625-1703). Suecia antiqua et hodierna. [Stockholm, 1692-1713 and later].

3 vols. in one, oblong 2 o (365 x 473 mm). 356 etched and engraved plates (the list of plates at end calling for 354, but numbers "46" in vol. II and "38" in vol. III each consisting of two separate plates), including 3 titles, 3 double-page and 10 folding plates, several others printed on two joined sheets, two portraits of King Charles XI of Sweden, a portrait of Dahlberg, and maps, plans, and views by various engravers including J. van den Aveele, Willem Swidde, Jean Marot, Jean Le Pautre, A. Perelle, J. J. von Sandrart, and E. Reitz, most after Count Dahlberg's drawings, the ink numbering of the plates corresponding to the numeration in the 13-page letterpress index (which is also fitted to sizes and includes a Swedish manuscript translation of the Latin plate titles) at end. Numerous plates are cut round platemark and mounted, indicating probable a later issue; (Some folding plates remargined and with repaired tears.) 18th-century Swedish calf over thick boards, spine in seven compartments elaborately gold tooled with drawer-handle and coquillage tools, gilt lettered red morocco lettering-piece in the second compartment (upper joint starting, rubbing to edges, some scrapes to sides). Provenance: J.G. (initials stamped on upper cover).

In 1661 Count Dahlberg, Governor of Livonia and Chancellor of the University of Tartu (Estonia), obtained a commission from the Swedish goverment to compile a visual archive of the country's architectural treasures. A team of 18 engravers was hired to transfer his drawings to copperplate (a few of the drawings were by David Klocker-Ehrenstrahl and Elias Brenner). Per Lagerlf wrote a Latin text, but it was only partially printed and never published (it appears in a few copies). It took 21 years to complete the printing of the plates, and the sheets continued to be published throughout the 18th and into the 19th century. During the years in storage many sheets suffered damage to the margins; later issues are thus often characterized by renewed margins. A small number of copies were issued in 1772, with a new title bearing that date. Berlin Katalog 2256; Brunet V:578.

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