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Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)

Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War

? CLAES JANSZ VISSCHER II (C.1587-1652)

Naval engagement in the Roadstead of the Downs, 1639

PUGNA NAVALIS QUA HISPANOS / VICERE BELGÆ FŒDERATI IN / DUINS ANGLIÆ AO CIƆ IƆC XXXIX

c.1643

Woodcut on eight pieces of paper joined to form three title strips; pasted onto the verso of a rough buff paper folder | 51.2 x 63.5 cm (folded to 51.2 x 31.8) | RCIN 722142

A folder containing five items relating to the Action of 18 September 1639 and the Battle of the Downs, 21 October 1639. The items do not appear to be related to each other. The Eighty Years War (1568-1648). See RCINs 722142.a-d.

This woodcut title was usually found pasted above a large composite print, made from seven numbered plates (Hollstein Dutch 89), by Claes Jansz Visscher II of the Battle of the Downs, 21 October 1639. (Rijksmuseum RP-P-OB-81.461). The mutli-part image comprised the woodcut title across the top, under which was an oval bust of Marten Tromp, set in the centre of the sky; below this was a three-part image of view, central map, view (similar but not identical to RCIN 722142.b), and under this was a large view of the battle with, bottom left, an inset of the order of battle in the Channel.

It is possible that ‘The large Print’, which was noted on the verso of RCIN 722142 as missing from George III’s collection at the time the old catalogue was being compiled in the early nineteenth century, is an example of, or similar to, the Visscher print in the Rijksmuseum. It is probable that the letterpress text at RCIN 722142.d accompanied this missing print. However, the letterpress text with the Rijksmuseum example, while giving the same information is from a slightly different setting and includes Visscher’s imprint which is dated 1643.

An example showing a sheet on which the title was originally printed, and from which the title would be cut out and assembled, is at Rijksmuseum RP-P-OB-81.461H.

A title with the same wording as this woodcut was engraved under another view of the battle, also published by Visscher (Rijksmuseum RP-P-OB-76.948).

  • ? Claes Jansz Visscher II (c.1587-1652) (publisher)

  • 51.2 x 63.5 cm (folded to 51.2 x 31.8)

    2.6 x 49.0 cm (image of top title strip)

    2.4 x 45.3 cm (image of middle title strip)

    2.4 x 50.2 cm (image of bottom title strip)

  • Printed title:

    PUGNA NAVALIS QUA HISPANOS / VICERE BELGÆ FŒDERATI IN / DUINS ANGLIÆ AO CIƆ IƆC XXXIX. [woodcut title pasted to the inside of the folder]

    Annotations:

    George III heading Naval Engagement in the Downs Sept.r 1639

    Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom left, below old heading, black pencil, in a modern hand:] a,b,c,d Oct '86 CMB; [below old heading, red ink:] The large Print wanting to which the inclosed refers.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Naval EngagementDowns [This woodcut title is not mentioned in the entry.]

  • Subject(s)

    The Downs, England (51°14ʹ00ʺN 01°26ʹ00ʺE)

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024