Banned erotic stories, with 8 plates, possibly by Romeyn de Hooghe

Banned by the French court, printed underground in Amsterdam, and possibly illustrated by Romeyn de Hooghe, this rare 17th-century Dutch edition of Les amours des dames illustres de notre siècle offers a glimpse into the risqué world of courtly intrigue, censorship, and subversive publishing.

This edition features a selection of six amorous stories and a poem from the original French work (first published in the 1660s). Among them is 't Koninklijk paleis, of de minneryen van mejuffer de la Valiere, a tale deemed too scandalous for both French and Dutch authorities. Its controversial nature led Amsterdam publisher Timotheus ten Hoorn (1644-1715)—known for his erotic and politically subversive works—to issue it under a false imprint.

The eight unsigned plates bear a striking resemblance to the work of Romeyn de Hooghe (1645–1708), a master of erotic and satirical engraving. De Hooghe collaborated with controversial publisher Ten Hoorn for over three decades, and the style of these engravings mirrors those in Het leven en d'arglistige treken der courtisanen te Romen, also published in 1680. While unsigned, they were almost certainly produced in De Hooghe’s studio.

This edition is exceptionally scarce. We trace no auction records in over 20 years. A cornerstone item for any collection focused on censorship, erotica, or Dutch Golden Age print culture. Add this banned 17th-century erotic classic to your collection.