May 2015 Auction Ends Thursday, May 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2015
William III of the Netherlands signed copy of Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer's ''Archives ou correspondance inedite de la maison d'Orange-Nassau,'' dated 31 August 1858. The French inscription on the fly-leaf, likely done by an assistant for the King, dedicates the volumes to ''Mr. J.L. Motley, conscientious and eloquent historian...from William of Orange, the greatest man of his era...'' King William III then signs: ''Guillaume III d'Orange / Roi des Pays-Bas''. After American historian John Motley published his popular history, ''The Rise of the Dutch Republic'' in 1856, he visited King William at the Hague, who appreciated Motley's work as it portrayed the Dutch favorably. The King then presented Motley with this inscribed twelve volume set of van Prinsterer's books. The set, bound in red with gilt lettering, consists of volumes one through eight plus two supplements in series I, and volumes one and two in series II. Set in French was published by S. & J. Luchtmans: Leide: 1835. Each book in series I has a royal bookplate affixed to the front pastedown. Moderate toning and foxing throughout, with some separation to bindings at backstrips. Overall very good condition.
Rare William III of the Netherlands Signed Book -- the King Dedicates a Copy of van Prinsterer's Dutch History to American Historian John Motley in 1858
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