Historica narratio profectionis et inaugurationis serenissimorum Belgii Principum Alberti et Isabellae, Austriae Archiducum; et eorum optatissimi in Belgium adventus.

Folio: 500-[11-1 bl.] pp. (some very min. spotting).

Contemp. calf (corners sl. bumped and rubbed), gilt orn. spine with 6 raised bands (joints splitting, head and tail sl. def.), sprinkled edges. Good copy.

First and only edition of one of the most sumptuous festivity books printed at the Plantin Press. Splendidly illustrated record of the triumphal entries of the newly-wed Archduke Albert of Austria and his bride Infanta Isabella of Spain into Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Valenciennes in 1599. Illustrated with 2 pages of musical notations, an elaborate engr. architectural title, incorporating fine portraits of Archdukes Albrecht and Isabella, 3 further engr. section titles, 2 architectural, all elaborate, 1 incorporating a view of Antwerp, another a view of Ghent, and 28 engr. pl. (incl. 15 double-page) by Pieter van der Borcht, the drawings variously attributed to Otto van Veen, Josse de Momper or Borcht himself. Bochius (1555-1609) was town clerk of Antwerp. The accounts of the Antwerp and Brussels entry are his own, whereas the account of the festivities in Ghent is written by Maximilianus Vrientius and the entry into Valenciennes by Henricus d'Outreman. All authors give detailed information of the festivities, the festival architecture, the floats, and illuminations and fireworks in the evening; and explain in detail the emblematic and allegorical decorations. Last leaf with large woodcut device of Plantin. Only 775 copies of this book were printed.
Ref. STCV. - Funck 281. - Landwehr, Splendid ceremonies, 62. - Imhof (Moretus) B-44. - Simoni (BL London) B-195. - Lipperheide 2657 (Sd14).
Prov. Princess Marie de Croÿ (bookpl.). - Régis Bayle, consul de S. M. le Roi des Belges (bookpl.).