Antique 2-Piece Set “The Hanging Signs” – Van Lennep & Ter Gouw – Amsterdam 1868 – Illustrated

A monument of Dutch folk culture.

This original two-volume edition of De Uithangteekens was published in 1868 by Gebroeders Kraay in Amsterdam. The work by Mr. J. van Lennep and J. ter Gouw is considered an important cultural-historical document on Dutch signboards, city life, and artisanal traditions.

The set is richly illustrated with over 300 letterpress engravings and contains beautifully hand-colored lithographic title pages printed by Tresling & Co. Amsterdam. The illustrations provide a vivid picture of commercial life, folk culture, and iconography from the 17th to the 19th century.

Both volumes are bound in original 19th-century publisher's bindings of brown linen with blind tooling and gilt stamping. The bindings feature a classic Neo-Gothic decor and gilt-stamped spine titles with volume numbering.

The set is in good antique condition with visible signs of age. In the first volume, the rear endpaper is damaged, partly exposing the inside of the spine. The bindings are otherwise stable, and the interior is complete.

An impressive antique set – strong in content, visually rich, and decoratively powerful.

Specifications

• Title: De Uithangteekens

• Authors: Mr. J. van Lennep & J. ter Gouw

• Year: 1868

• Publisher: Gebroeders Kraay, Amsterdam

• Number of volumes: 2 (complete)

• Height: approx. 25 cm

• Thickness: approx. 3 cm per volume

• Illustrations: over 300 wood engravings + hand-colored lithographs

• Binding: original linen with gilt printing

• Condition: good, with signs of age and damaged endpaper in volume I