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reckon by hundreds the different impressions which proceeded 

 from them. Such productions being well adapted to the hand 

 of the Dutch and German artists who worked upon copper, 

 many highly-wrought and beautiful specimens made their ap- 

 pearance in the Low Countries at the beginning of the seven- 

 teenth century, accompanied by the poetical illustrations of 

 Jacob Cats, and other distinguished authors, in their own 

 language. These of course were of a larger and more costly 

 description than the early productions above mentioned. 



" Our own country was very late in producing any Books of 

 Emblems, and then borrowed largely and avowedly from foreign 

 publications. 



" It is here proper to mention that there were also published, 

 during the 16th century, in Italy, and elsewhere, a number of 

 elegant and learned works nearly allied to Books of Emblems, 

 but rather to be referred to the department of Heraldry. These 

 were collections of the Devices or Achievements of distinguished 

 men, which came into general use at the beginning of that 

 century. They were denominated, in the Italian language, 

 Imprese, and in the Latin, Symbola Heroica, and employed the 

 talents of many eminent scholars, such as Paolo Giovio, 

 Euscelli, Torquato Tasso, &c. The engravings, which were 

 for the most part beautifully executed, were accompanied by 

 copious and erudite comments and illustrations. To enlarge 

 upon the origin and nature of these Imprese would be foreign to 

 the present design ; but as they were in several respects similar 

 to Books of Emblems, and published contemporaneously, many 

 of the historical and general remarks made upon the one class 

 will be found applicable to the other. It is peculiarly 

 desirable to guard against digression on this occasion, lest the 

 fascinating nature of the subject should draw us imperceptibly 

 into a consideration of those collateral branches of art, and of 

 literary composition, with which, during the period in ques- 

 tion, the world was delighted by such men as Erasmus, 

 Sebastian Brandt, and Holbein. After being conducted to the 



