Descriptio publicae gratulationis, spectaculorum et ludorum in adventu sereniss. Principis Ernesti Archiducis Austriae [...].

Folio: 174-[2] pp. (min. printing def. on the engr. title due to paper folds, some foxing and spotting, sl. marg. soiling, occ. stains, first ff. cut too short at head shaving the text).

Contemp. vellum, later title-label on spine, red edges (soiling, flyleaves and endbands renewed).

First and only ed. of this magnificent festival book celebrating the entry of archduke Ernst of Austria into Antwerp on 14 June 1594, by the Neo-Latin poet and Antwerp town secretary Bochius (1555-1609). Engr. ill.: 2 titles within elaborate border, 29 full-page and 4 double-page pl. by P. van der Borcht (1545-1608). The ceremonies were organised by the Antwerp citizens together with the merchants of Spain, Portugal, Genoa, Milan, Florence, Lucca, and the Brothers Fugger. The traditional giant figures of the Leviathan, the elephant, and the whale were also present among the decorations erected, and are strikingly depicted on separate plates. Impressive too are the double-page plates showing the advance towards the city, the theatre of peace, the equestrial games, and the fires lighted on the market place. All decors were designed by Martin de Vos, which were then drawn on a smaller scale by Cornelis de Vos the Second and Josse de Momper. Pieter van der Borcht then made his beautiful engravings to illustrate the present work. Archduke Ernest of Austria, the son of the Emperor Maximilian II, was in 1594 appointed Governor-General for the Catholic Low Countries by Philip II of Spain. The work starts with a short history of the Southern Low Countries, taking about 50 pages. Woodcut printer's mark at end, printed music on pp. 82-83.
Ref. Imhof B-42. - Landwehr, SC, 50. - BB I:306-308:B-388. - BT 344. - Adams B-2208. - STC Dutch 36. - Berlin Kat. 2944.
Prov. Albert Visart de Bocarmé (1868-1947), Bruges historian and numismatist, burgomaster of Uitbergen in East Flanders (armorial bookpl.).