Histoire des ordres monastiques, religieux et militaires, et des congregations seculieres de l'un & de l'autre sexe, qui ont esté éstablies jusqu'à present [...].

8 vol., 4to (n.c.; tear in vol. VI, pl. 84).

Contemp. half marbled sheep (sl. rubbed, corners bumped), marbled paper over covers (some sm. def.), gilt-orn. spines with 5 raised bands and red leather title labels (joints rubbed, sm. def. at heads & tails), red edges. Good set.

First edition of this monumental work with 805 (of 811) numbered engr. pl. engr. by Duflos, Giffart, de Poilly and Thomassin, showing all the costumes of the monastic orders that existed from the beginning of christianism, as well as the costumes of the military orders. Several chapters are dedicated to the suppressed orders, especially to the Knights Templar. In the 7th vol. a Jesuit is represented in Mandarin costume (pl. 68). Volume I of this work also contains one of the important "hidden bibliographies" of books on monastic orders, with updatings in the following volumes. Last plate 99 of Vol. VIII not called for in Colas nor Lipperheide. 6 missing plates: Vol. I: n. 75; Vol. VIII: n. 22, 50, 63-65. A few pl. bound in the wrong vol./place. Titles in red and black. First 6 vol. with Coignard on title page, last 2 vol. with Gosselin.
Ref. Colas 1417 (810 pl.). - Lipperheide 1846 (id.). - Cohen 480.
Prov. "Fondatio Terninck" (contemp. ms. entry on titles erased). - L. Donche (old. ms. entries). - Jesuits Bruges (libr. labels).