A VOC ship’s binding from the Chamber of Amsterdam.

d’Erven Stichters Comptoir Almanach, Voor ‘t Jaar 1800. Voorzien van eene aanwyzing der Jaar-, Paarden-, Beesten- en Leermarkten, welke in de Bataafsche Republiek gehouden worden, als mede de Vacantien, het Varen der Trekschuyten en Beurtschepen, het vertrek der Posten en Postwagens. Nevens de maans op- en ondergang. Te Amsterdam : by de erfgen. van de Wed. C. Stichter, in de Warmoesstraat, schuyn over de Oude Kerksteeg, in de Oude Berg Calvarie, in no. 159, [1800]. Quarto, contemporary full calf, a VOC binding from the Chamber of Amsterdam, both upper and lower boards with identical blind-embossed monogram VOC beneath the letter A, above and below this the date ANNO 1800, within a gilt ornamental floral border; spine in compartments with five raised bands and gilt ornament; front and rear endpapers inscribed Slagt Huijs (indicating that the book was designated for use at one of the Company’s slaughterhouses), the front endpaper with an additional early ownership inscription, the surname ‘De Grosheide’; title page with engraved printer’s device; [32] pp, printed in red and black, woodcut illustrations; occasional contemporary marginalia, else internally clean and sound.

A particularly fine example of a late VOC binding.

As Amsterdam was the centre of the Dutch book industry, it was this chamber of the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or Dutch East India Company) that supplied most of the Bibles, psalm books, catechism books, maps and almanacs carried on the Company’s outbound ships. The front cover of this almanac, a calendar for the year 1800 which includes such information as religious feast days and astronomical data, is blind-stamped with the VOC-A monogram, indicating it was supplied by the Amsterdam chamber. The inscriptions on the endpapers denote that this copy was supplied to one of the Company’s abattoirs, possibly at Batavia.

See: Landwehr, J. (1991). VOC. A bibliography of publications relating to the Dutch East India Company 1602-1800 (a full-page illustration of this very copy, p.xxviii).