Rare 18th century Dutch book on apples and pears
by Johann Hermann Knoop (1706 – 1778) consisting of:
(1) Beschrijving en afbeeldingen van de beste soorten van appelen en peeren, meest geacht en zorgvuldigst aangekweekt in Duitschland, in Frankrijk, in Engeland, en in de XVII. Provintien;
(2) Beschrijving van vruchtboomen en vruchten, die men in hoven plant en onderhoudt, met derzelver verschillende naamen, voortteeling, groeiplaatzen, aankweeking, huishoudelijk gebruik, wijze van uitleggen, en toebereiding;
(3) Beschrijving van de plantagie-tuin of van de wilde boom- en heestergewassen.
These three titles in a later – 19th century – binding which is in a poor state. Published by Allart, Holtrop, de Leeuw en Krap, Amsterdam en Dordrecht in 1790. The first two titles have many folding (old) hand coloured plates of various types of fruit. Staines in upper margins of the pages and the plates. One title page (2) is loose. Some leaves are uncut and the endpapers are renewed.
Johann Hermann Knoop was head gardener of Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel (1688 – 1765). Her nickname was “Marijke Meu”. She was the widow of stadhouder Johan Willem Friso (1687 – 1711). She became in 1732 the owner of the summer estate “Mariënburg” at Achter de Hoven in Leeuwarden (Fryslan/Friesland) where Knoop worked. He was fired because he drank too much alcohol and after that he started writing books for his profession. See for a photo reproduction of this estate “Prospect van Haar Hoogheit Princesse van Oranjen en Nassau Lusttuin Maarienburg”, source Beeldbank Leeuwarden. Price on request.
