Histori Van de Opkomste, Aanwas, en Voortgang der Christenen, bekend by den nam van Quakers. Ondermengd met de vronamste Staatsgeschiedenissen van dien tyd, in Engeland voorgevallen en net Authentike Stukken voorzien
Amsterdam: R. en G. Wetstein, 1717. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Scarce first edition in Low Dutch, which, afterwards was translated into English by the author - "The history of the rise, increase, and progress, of the Christian people called Quakers: intermixed with several remarkable occurrenc." - and published in London in 1722. Folio, old calf, boards detached, ffe detached, (16), 784, 56, (12). Worldcat lists 14 collections with this original edition, most in the Netherlands and 6 in the United States. Willem Sewel (also William) (c1653 - 1720) was a Dutch Quaker historian, of English background, son of Jacob Williamson Sewel, a free citizen and surgeon of Amsterdam where he was born. His paternal grandfather, William Sewel, a Brownist of Kidderminster, emigrated from England to escape religious persecution, and married a native of Utrecht. His mother, Judith Zinspenning, daughter of a German Catholic, afterwards a Baptist, joined the Quakers in 1657, after hearing William Ames. She became an eloquent minister, visited England in 1663, was author of A Serious Reproof to the Flemish Baptists, 1660, a Book of Proverbs (translated into English by William Caton, London, 1663), An Epistle, and other short books. She died at Amsterdam on 10 September 1664, aged 34. Her husband predeceased her. Sewel was brought up by an uncle. At eight he was fairly proficient in Latin, but was soon apprenticed to a weaver. At fourteen he visited his mother's friends in England. Returning to Holland after a sojourn of ten months, he obtained work as a translator, contributed regularly to the Amsterdam Courant and other papers, wrote verses, and conducted a periodical. In spite of an invitation from William Penn to become master of the Quaker school opened at Bristol, Sewel remained in Amsterdam until his death on 13 March 1720. Sewel spent 25 years on this major work, known as the History of the Quakers. (Source Wikipedia). Very Good. Item #012308
Price: $750.00