Adriaen Collaert’s complete series of eight engravings, “Septem Planetæ”, 1581, after Maarten de Vos

Adriaen Collaert (c1560–1618)

“Septem Planetæ” (aka “The Seven Planets and Seven Ages”; “De zeven planeten en zeven leeftijden”; “Septem planetae, septem hominis”), 1581, complete set of eight engravings (including the title plate) about the power of the seven planets over the seven ages of man (see Rijksmuseum’s description of the title page [inv. no. RP-P-1925-74]) after the designs of Maarten de Vos (aka Maarten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603), published in Amsterdam by Covens & Mortier (fl.1721–1866)—a firm founded by Johannes Covens (1697–1774) and Cornelis Mortier (1699–1783).

Title plate: “Septem Planetæ”. See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96915.

1. “Luna“—Allegory on infancy, lettered below the image borderline: “Auspicio LVNÆ, NATVRÆ munera crescent/ Robur et hinc INFANS concipit omne suum” (Under the auspices of the Moon, Nature's gifts grow stronger, and hence the child conceives all its own). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96916.

2. “Mercury”—Allegory on childhood, lettered below the image borderline: “DOCTRINA et varias artes, ætate seconda/ MERCVRIVS pueris stella sconda parat” (Learning and different skills, at the age of two, Mercury prepares the child's star). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96917.

3. “Venus“—Allegory on adolescence, lettered below the image borderline: “SEDVLITAS quam fert Dilectio tertia adulto/ ÆTATE est quam fert tertia stella VENVS” (The diligence which love brings to the third adult/ is at the age which the third star Venus brings). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96918.

4. “Sol“—Allegory on youth, lettered below the image borderline: “Est HONOR hunc ætas sectatur quarta Iuuentus/ Quartus et his claris SOL quoque clarus adest” (It is an honour that this age is followed by the fourth youth/ Fourth and among these bright suns there is also a bright sun”). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96919.

5. “Mars“—Allegory on virility, lettered below the image borderline: “Fit DISCRETIO prudens quinta ætate virili/ Prouidus et fortis MARS quibus vusque valet” (DISCRETION becomes prudent in the fifth age of manhood/ Faithful and strong MARS is worthy of all those). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96920.

6. “Jupiter“—Allegory on tmiddle age, lettered below the image borderline: “Vis REMINISCENDI Sexta est ætate Senili/ IVPITER hanc Sextus rite planeta fouet” (The force of REMEMBERING is the sixth in the old age/ JUPITER properly favours this sixth planet). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96921.

7. “Saturn”—Allegory on old age, lettered below the image borderline: “Extrema premitur MENS CONSCIA sæpe senecta/ Quas SATVRNE moues ultime falce tua” (The most pressing MIND CONSCIOUSNESS is often old / Which SATURN you move with your last sickle). See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.96922.

Eight engravings on laid paper (with watermark) and margins as published.

Size: based on the title page (with slight variations with each sheet) 36.4 x 25.1 cm; (plate) 29 x 20.8 cm.

State ii (of ii) with the change of publisher from Gerard de Jode.

New Hollstein Dutch 1298–1305 (Ann Diels and Marjolein Leesberg [comp.] 2005/6, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings, and Woodcuts 1450–1700: The Collaert Dynasty”, Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel, Sound and Vision, pp. 19–21; pp. 22–29, cat. nos. 1298–1305).

Condition: well-printed but slightly silvery impressions with full margins. There are a few tears, nicks, edge holes and stains (mainly in the margins) but generally the sheets are in a good condition for their considerable age.

I am selling this exceptionally rare complete series of engravings for AU$2664 (currently US$1780.62/EUR1611.11/GBP1418.23 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing full set of prints about the influence of the planets on us as we age, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.