{"product_id":"commelin-s-begin-ende-voortgangh-1646","title":"Commelin’s \"Begin ende Voortgangh\" (1646)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommelin’s \"Begin ende Voortgangh\" (1646) – Complete Two-Volume Set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Begin ende Voortgangh Vande Vereenigde Nederlantsche Geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie (The Beginning and Progress of the United Netherlands Chartered East India Company)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEditor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Isaac Commelin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Amsterdam, Netherlands\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1646\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Two volumes, containing numerous copperplate engraved maps, coastal profiles, and ethnographic plates.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Definitive Chronicle of the Spice Trade\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis monumental two-volume set is the \"Bible\" of Dutch maritime exploration. It tells the definitive story of how a small group of Dutch merchants transformed into the world’s first global corporation, the VOC. Before this publication, the journals of the early voyages to the East Indies were often kept as state secrets; Commelin’s work brought these harrowing and triumphant stories to the public for the first time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWithin these pages are the firsthand accounts of the most legendary voyages in history, including the first Dutch fleet to reach Indonesia under \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCornelis de Houtman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the explorations of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoris van Spilbergen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the foundational journeys to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJava\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe Moluccas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It is not merely a collection of books; it is the primary visual and textual record of the moment Southeast Asia was first mapped and cataloged by the Dutch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChronicles of the Set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Visual Encyclopedia:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The set is renowned for its high-quality copperplate engravings. It includes detailed maps of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJava\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSumatra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBali\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpice Islands\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, alongside \"birds-eye\" views of early colonial fortifications and depictions of the diverse cultures the Dutch encountered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \"Secret\" Journals:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Commelin meticulously edited the journals of various admirals and merchants, providing a day-by-day account of life at sea, early diplomatic encounters with local Sultans, and the brutal reality of the early spice wars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Frontispiece Allegory:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The iconic opening engraving (shown in your photo) depicts the Netherlands as a royal figure receiving the bounties of the East—cloves, nutmeg, and silk—signifying the wealth that these volumes documented.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBibliographic Rarity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The 1646 edition is particularly prized by collectors for the clarity of its plates and its inclusion of accounts that were omitted from later, smaller abridgments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Treasures of the Orient","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43920201449537,"sku":null,"price":48000.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/7125\/5105\/files\/A8E268AE-A1BC-4013-8A56-7A57121B7FFC.jpg?v=1778224336","url":"https:\/\/treasuresoftheorient.com\/products\/commelin-s-begin-ende-voortgangh-1646","provider":"Treasures of the Orient","version":"1.0","type":"link"}