Lot 177: RUDBECK, Olof (1630-1702). [Atlantica:] Atland eller Manheim, in Swedish and Latin.

RUDBECK, Olof (1630-1702). [Atlantica:] Atland eller Manheim, in Swedish and Latin. Uppsala: Henricus Curio, '1675' [1681]; 1689; volumes III-IV: for the author, 1698-99; volume IV: Stockholm: 1863.

4 text volumes, 2° (313 x 195mm) and atlas volume (461 x 315mm). Vol. I with engraved frontispiece, full-page woodcut at end and a few woodcut text illustrations, vol. II with engraved frontispiece and 25 full-page woodcuts outside collation, vol. III with 27 full-page woodcuts within collation, atlas volume contains letterpress title, engraved portrait by Dionysius Padt Brugge, and 49 engraved and woodcut maps (15 double-page; 4 by Philipp Jacob Thelott). Leaf of Instructions to the Binder bound in manuscript index volume. (A few plates just shaved, light browning, occasional light spotting, slightly heavier in a few plates, portrait mounted, short neat tear into one map.) Vols. I-III and atlas: contemporary citron goatskin, gilt spine with red and black labels, edges marbled and gilt (a few small scuff-marks, a little light wear at extremities). Vol. IV: uncut, without wrapper, a few quires loose, laid into modern card folder. Provenance: E. Pederberg (contemporary title inscription in gold ink) -- John Stuart (1744-1821, first Marquess of Bute, Luton Hoo Library; armorial bookplate).

AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE AND COMPLETE COPY. The Atlantica is the culmination of Swedish Gothicism. In attempting to glorify the new nation state the myth of Sweden's Gothic origins was revitalised. Rudbeck expands this tradition and sets out to prove that Sweden was the legendary island Atlantis mentioned by Plato. He claimes that all classical culture had its origin in the North in the proto-Swedish kingdom, and attempts to substitute Swedish etymology for Greek. Despite his occasional extreme interpretation, the Atlantica is valuable for its extensive discussion of myth and its description of artefacts, understood using surprisingly modern archaelogical methods. It remains the most extensive document in Swedish Gothicisim.

The present Bute-Nathhorst set is one of only 13 known complete sets. It comprises the second edition of volume I (mistakenly dated 1675), first editions of parts II, III and the atlas volume (of which the title-page dated 1699 may be unique), the 1863 reprint of part IV (see below), and the Testimonia volume in contemporary manuscript. The great fire of 1702 at Upsala destroyed all but 9 copies of part IV; it was reprinted in 1863, with Nelson's Anteckningar. The set is accompanied by a manuscript volume bound in near-uniform 18th-century English citron morocco gilt (one spine label missing) containing an index to vol. III; one leaf letterpress Instructions to the Binder for the plates (only four copies known, none in Sweden); two ms. indices of plates in French and Latin; testimonials by famous men. With two other related works: a prospectus for an edition to be published in 1727; and Gustaf Rudbeck, Olof Rudbecks Atland, Stockholm: 1907. Cf. Nelson, Anteckningar om Rudbeck's Atland (Stockholm: 1863) and Nordenskiold, 257. (8)

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