Varied Works from Gert Jan Bestebreurtje Rare Books
- by Michael Stillman
The sinking of the Janson.
In the days before wireless communication, ships had to relay messages to each other via signals, hand if really close up, but more often by flag to be seen at any distance. Item 54 is a signal book circa 1736, ThesailingandfightinginstructionsorsignalsastheyareobservedintheRoyalNavyofGreatBritain. It contains 66 engraved plates, each with two images of old battleships displaying their flags in various positions. €950 (US $1,303).
Item 101 is a watercolor depicting the sinking of an American ship off the coast of Den Helder in the Netherlands. The Jansondeparted Providence, Rhode Island, for Amsterdam on February 28, 1819. The first time, she made it all right. The ship then proceeded to Batavia, Surabayo, and back to Amsterdam. It was that return to Holland that didn't turn out so well. She was carrying a cargo of coffee and rice when she sank on February 4, 1820. Apparently, it all ended up in the sea, though Captain Benjamin Mayo and his crew all made it to safety. The painting HetzinkenvanhetAmerikaanseschipJanosnvoordeHelder (the loss of the American ship Janson off the coast of Den Helder) was created by Dutch marine artist Jan Mooij. It shows three ships, but they are all the Janson, in various stages of distress. The last of the three shows her mostly under water while the crew escapes on lifeboats. €4,950 (US $6,804).
Gonnelli: Valli Antonio, Il canto de gl'augelli. In Roma, Nicolò Mutij, 1601.
Gonnelli: Moniglia Giovanni Andrea, Il Mondo Festeggiante. In Firenze: nella Stamperia di S.A.S., 1661.
Gonnelli: Alighieri Dante, [Divine Comedy with commentary and Life of Dante by Cristoforo Landino]. Danthe alegieri fiorentino. Venezia, Capcasa, 1493.
![<b>Gonnelli:</b> Alighieri Dante, [Divine Comedy with commentary and Life of Dante by Cristoforo Landino]. Danthe alegieri fiorentino. Venezia, Capcasa, 1493.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/fc9560f4-73da-4dfd-8070-2fb3b8892dd9.JPG "<b>Gonnelli:</b> Alighieri Dante, [Divine Comedy with commentary and Life of Dante by Cristoforo Landino]. Danthe alegieri fiorentino. Venezia, Capcasa, 1493.")
![<b>Gonnelli:</b> Gouvea Antonio (de), Innocentia victrix. [China, Canton], 1671.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/ebc18788-ba83-4c96-bbc8-fe8f2b287c31.JPG "<b>Gonnelli:</b> Gouvea Antonio (de), Innocentia victrix. [China, Canton], 1671.")
