Jonkheer Jan Willem Six 1824–1909 (Dutch Nobleman)
Among the many printed traces of the Eighty
Years’ War, few survive with both the immediacy of contemporary news and the
distinguished lineage of a patrician library. The Cort Verhael vande groote en heerlickte Victorie…, printed in Amsterdam
in 1596, is one such example. It reports the Anglo‑Dutch assault on Cádiz in the summer of that year, a moment of triumph eagerly consumed
by readers across the Republic. Yet this particular copy carries an additional
layer of significance: it once formed part of the celebrated Six family
library, housed for centuries in the stately residence on the Amstel known as
Het Huis Six, and bears the engraved bookplate of Jonkheer Jan Willem Six
(1824–1909). The pamphlet thus stands at the intersection of early modern news
culture and the long intellectual tradition of one of Amsterdam’s most
influential families.
The Complete Dutch Title and Its English
Rendering
“Cort Verhael vande
groote en heerlickte Victorie, die den Almachtigen Godt verleent heeft aen de
Armade van Engelant, met de geluckige nederlaech van de Spaensche Galeyen,
Galleonen, Pinassen ende andere machtige Schepen in de Bay van Cales‑Malaga,
ende de inne‑neminghe der Stadt ende Bruggen daer, mitsgaders
andere Steden ende Plaetsen daer ontrent”.
“A Short Account of the Great and
Glorious Victory that Almighty God Granted to the Armada of England, with the
Fortunate Defeat of the Spanish Galleys, Galleons, Pinnaces and Other Powerful
Ships in the Bay of Cádiz‑Málaga, and the Capture of the City and Its Bridges, Together with
Other Towns and Places Nearby”.
A Contemporary Account of the Cádiz
Expedition
The pamphlet itself offers a remarkably immediate account of the events of June and July 1596. It describes the destruction of Spanish galleys in the Bay of Cádiz–Málaga, the storming of the city, the seizure of the New Spain fleet, and the panic that spread across Andalusia as English and Dutch forces advanced. The narrative is based on reports brought back by Dutch and Zeeland sailors who had been in Sanlúcar and other Spanish ports, and it preserves the tone of urgency and triumph that characterized Dutch printed news during the Eighty Years’ War. Pamphlets of this kind were printed in small numbers and rarely survived; their preservation depended almost entirely on early collectors who recognized their historical value.
The Six Family Library at Het Huis Six
For centuries, the Six family maintained their library within their residence on the Amstel, a canal‑side house that became known as Het Huis Six. This elegant home, situated near the Magere Brug, served not only as the family’s living quarters but also as the repository of their art, archives, and books. The library grew steadily from the seventeenth century onward, shaped by generations of collectors who valued the printed and artistic heritage of the Dutch Republic. By the nineteenth century, when Jan Willem Six oversaw its care, the library had become a respected centre of Dutch cultural memory, frequently consulted by scholars and bibliographers.
Jonkheer Jan Willem Six and His Role as
Custodian
The engraved “Ex Bibliotheca J. W. Six” identifies the former owner of this pamphlet as Jan Willem Six, a
nineteenth‑century
descendant of the famous Jan Six (1618–1700), the friend of Rembrandt. Jan Willem inherited not only the
family name but also its intellectual responsibilities. He was known for his
interest in Dutch history, early printed works, and political ephemera, and he
played a central role in organizing and expanding the library during his
lifetime. His bookplate is therefore more than a mark of ownership; it is a
sign that the pamphlet passed through a collection shaped by centuries of
careful stewardship.
From Private Shelves to the Wider World
Although the Six family preserved their
library with great care, dispersal of certain materials occurred gradually over
time. After the death of Jan Willem Six in 1909, parts of the collection were
reorganized, and pamphlets being small, numerous, and often duplicated were
among the items most likely to leave the house. When the Six Foundation was
established in 1922, its focus rested primarily on safeguarding the family’s
art collection, not the entirety of the book holdings. It is therefore
unsurprising that individual pamphlets entered the market during this period of
transition. The manuscript note on the wrapper, “niet by Knuttel,” suggests
that this example was recognized early as a variant or unrecorded edition,
which may have contributed to its movement into private hands.
A Rare Survival with a Distinguished
Provenance
The Cort Verhael is a rare survivor of the
Dutch Republic’s early news culture, a concise but powerful record of a pivotal
naval victory. Its preservation within the Six family library at Het Huis Six,
under the custodianship of Jan Willem Six, adds a dimension of cultural and
historical depth that few pamphlets of this kind can claim. In combining
textual rarity, historical immediacy, and elite provenance, this copy stands as
a remarkable artifact of the Dutch Republic’s printed heritage and a testament
to the enduring legacy of the Six family.
Cort Verhael vande groote
en heerlickte Victorie… (Amsterdam: Aelbrecht
Heyndricksz, 1596).
Formerly in the library of J.W. Six
(1824–1909), with his engraved ex‑libris.
Contemporary chronicle incorporating early
reports of the 1596 Cádiz expedition.
Nederland’s Patriciaat, genealogical entries for the Six family, including Jan Willem Six (1824–1909).
Documentation of family lineage and
custodianship of the Six library.
Evidence for provenance, bookplate usage,
and library dispersal.
Used to confirm the note “niet by Knuttel”
and the pamphlet’s variant status.
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