After the Middle Ages no attention at all was given to the manuscripts of Van den vos Reynaerde (Reynaert I) and Reynaerts Historie (Reynaert II) in the Netherlands until 1805 and 1780 respectively. But the Reynaert-story remained popular throughout the ages. This popularity was due to the Dutch Chapbooks, bearing the title: Van Reynaert die vos, een seer genoechiizcke ende vermakelijcke Historie met haer Moralisatien ende kerte wilegginghen voor die Capittelen gestelt van nieus oversien ende verbetert. Met schoone Figueren gheciert. There has never been much research on these chapbooks, and the few studies which exist concentrate on the earlier books. It is the aim of this article to show that the later chapbooks, and especially their illustrations, also deserve attention, particularly since they give some indication of the story’s popularity from the end of the Middle Ages into modern times. The extent of this popularity may be judged through evidence enabling us to make a reasonable estimate of the “normal” number of copies printed in any ane edition, and of the number of different editions printed in Holland between the 15th and 19th century. - [Author]

Language: English

Locators: ISSN: 0925-4757; DOI: 10.1075/rein.2.15ver