78/2749 [Popular literature]. 't Begin, Midden en Eynde Der Zee-Rooveryen, van den Alder-fameusten zee-roover, Claes G. Compaen, Van Oostzanen in Kennemer-landt. Vervattende sijn wonderlijcke vreemde en Lands schadelijcke Drijf-tochten. Waer in vertoont wordt, hoe hy met weyningh Schepen de Zee onveyligh gemaeckt, een ongelooflijcke Buyt, en groot getal van Schepen van alle Landen gerooft ende afgeloopen heeft. Amst., G. de Groot, 1697, (6),42p., woodcut ill. on title-p., 3 ills., later wr.

- Title waterstained and repaired on verso w. very thin fibres; waterstained throughout

= This edition not in the usual reference works. Cf. Buisman 114; cf. Muller, America 2131; cf. Waller 218; cf. Scheepers II, 1026 (all ed. 1662); Muller 839/840 (other eds.); "Klaas Compaan was een zeer populaire figuur in de 17e eeuw. Na jarenlange rooftochten, kreeg hij pardon van de Staten, en eindigde zijn leven aan de Zaan, waar hij zijn geroofde schatten grootendeels weêr verloor". The first book on piracy ever published. First published in 1659 it became an immediate success which went through many editions in the 17th and 18th centuries. Now all these editions are scarce, but especially the 17th cent. editions (1659, 1662, 1675 and 1688) are hardly ever found on the market. The legendary Claes Gerritsz. Compaen (1587-±1656) was born in Oostzaan, The Netherlands. He was a tremendously daring pirate who was pardoned by the Dutch government to persuade him to retire. He returned to Oostzaan and lived some peaceful 20 years spending the enormous fortunes obtained at sea.