Author: [COYETT, Balthasar and Coenraad van KLENCK].
Title: Historisch verhael, of beschryving van de voyagie, gedaen onder de suite van den heere Koenraad van Klenk ... en sijn hoogheyt den heere Prince van OranjeAmsterdam, Jan Claesz. ten Hoorn, 1677. 4to. With an etched frontispiece and 6 double-page etched plates. Contemporary vellum, sewn on 4 supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title at the head of the spine.
Description: [8], "214" [= 220], [2] pp.Rare large paper copy of the first edition of an important account detailing a Dutch embassy to Russia (1675-1676), with a frontispiece and six beautiful evocative etchings by Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708). Written by a member of the party, the work includes detailed descriptions of Russian manners and customs. Both Muller and Van Genkel-Van het Schip write that the work is considered to be the best source for the history of foreign relations of Russia during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676) and the most important publication on Russia in the 17th century.In 1775, a group lead by the rich merchant Coenraad van Klenck (1628-1691) was sent to Russia by the Dutch government in order to persuade Tsar Alexei to start a war with Sweden (which would benefit the Dutch Republic), as well as to obtain a Dutch monopoly for the trade with Persia via Russia. Klenck was chosen as the leader because he was the director of an important trading company which sold fish and caviar on the Russian market. He also owned multiple houses in Russia and spoke the language well. Another member of the party was Balthasar Coyett (ca. 1650-1725), the son of Frederick Coyett (1615-1675), who was the last governor of Dutch Formosa. Balthasar is most likely the author of the present work.The group travelled from Amsterdam to Arkhangelsk, where Klenck owned a house, and then continued to Moscow over the Vologda river. The mission was subsidised with more than 50,000 guilders, an extraordinary amount which was even exceeded during the journey. The sumptuous delegation brought many costly gifts for the Tsar and other Russians. They were very well received, and their entrance and conversations with the Tsar are beautifully illustrated by de Hooghe. Unfortunately, Klenck failed to persuade the Tsar to enter into war with Sweden or to give the Dutch a monopoly on the silk trade with Persia. The relations between Russia and the Dutch Republic, however, remained good. Klenck and his group even attended the coronation Feodor III Alekseyevich when Tsar Alexei passed away shortly after their arrival. According to Boterbloem, the embassy was at least partly responsible for an intensified Muscovite interest in Europe and vice versa afterwards.The vellum is somewhat scratched and lightly soiled. The bottom sewing thread has broken in quire L, causing pages 83-90 to be partly detached. This large paper copy with wide margins is otherwise in excellent condition.l Adelung II, 124; Bibliothèque Impériale de St.-Pétersbourg, Catalogue de la section des Russica, vol. 1, K583; Landwehr, Romeyn de Hooghe as book illustrator 46; Muller, Bibl. Neerlando-Russe 200; STCN 850449480 (9 copies); Tiele, Bibl. 602; USTC 1813721 (8 copies); Van Gestel-Van het Schip, P., Maps in books of Russia and Poland, p. 546-547; cf. Boterbloem, "Russia and Europe: The Koenraad van Klenk Embassy to Moscow (1675-76)", in: Journal of Early Modern History vol. 14 (May 2010), no. 3, pp. 187-217.

Keywords: [80CBADC1D9E8] CARTOGRAPHY & EXPLORATION|[80CBADC1D9E8] CARTOGRAPHY & EXPLORATION -> [F94AEB0D1632] Voyages & Travel|[7F0260752519] EUROPE|[7F0260752519] EUROPE -> [G93BC775QOI7] Russia|[BFFF1D78AE20] HISTORY, LAW & PHILOSOPHY|[BFFF1D78AE20] HISTORY, LAW