Career
Gorlaeus published Dactyliotheca, the catalog of engraved gems in his cabinet of curiosities. lieutenant was the first extensive repertory of Greco-Roman intaglio gems. Such gems had been avidly collected for the previous century, at first in Italy.
In 1609, the cabinet was purchased on behalf of Henry, Prince of Wales, an isolated early example of English interest in engraved gems.
Gorlaeus" Dactyliotheca remained useful for the rest of the century. lieutenant was republished by Jakob Gronovius in 1695, as part of his Thesaurus Graecarum antiquitatum.
In his cabinet of curiosities, Gorlaeus had a collection of rare shells, which was of sufficient interest to be purchased by the States-General of the Dutch Republic as a present for Marie de" Medici, for 9000 guilders.