Le Grand Théâtre sacré du Duché de Brabant.

4 parts in 2 vol., large folio: [6]-394-14, [2]-40, [2]-212, [2]-134 pp. (some minor spotting, offsetting of text in vol. II).

Contemp. marbled sheep, gilt spines with raised bands (rubbed, 1 joint split, def. at heads & tails).

First edition of this impressive iconographical work on Brabant and Antwerp, erroneously attributed to Jacques Le Roy or Sanderus; it is in fact a compilation by an unknown author. First volume concerning Mechelen, Leuven, Diest, Tienen, etc.; 2nd on Antwerp. Engr. ill., some signed by D. Coster and Harrewijn: 4 title-vign., 2 folding maps, 25 portraits (of 26; missing Boussu (Vol. I)), 5 ill. in text, +/- 185 pl. depicting funeral monuments or gravestones, and 72 pl. showing nice views of abbeys and churches (mostly double-page, 1 missing compared to index (church of Laeken, Vol. I), 3 extra pl. not in index (churches of Aalst and Ninove, abbey of Nazareth)). The hundreds of printed coats of arms are hand-coloured. Our copy is further enriched with 2 extra portraits (Antwerp bishop J. Malderus, after Van Dyck, pasted on front flyleaf, and cardinal Boussu, by Tanjé after Smeyers, to replace the orig. missing portrait), and 3 extra, very rare folding plates bound at the end: 1. Broadsheet "Beschryvinghe der Franschen moet-wil, geschiet in het bombarderen, en verbrande der princelycke stadt Brusselen", G. Bouttats, Antwerp, 1695. With large engr. siege map and views of the burning city, and a mortar (sm. tear). - 2. Folding map "Lovanium", engr. by A. Pauli, Antwerp, 1635 (underlaid). Military map of Leuven and its surroundings. - 3. Folding map "Plan de la ville et citadelle d'Anvers", by J.F. Lucas. Title in red & black.
Ref. BB V:319-329:T-57. - Barbier II:365. - STCN.
Prov. Vaernewyck (arm. bookplate by F. Heijlbrouck, ms. label on front pastedowns and ms. notes on first flyleaves).