"Armorial du Grand Conseil de Malines appelé Manuscrit Stalins".

8 vol., 4to, 25 x 21,5 cm: 3 ff. (numb. II, III, IV); 360 pl., drawn with China ink and watercoloured, captioned in French, all on strong tinted wove paper.

In plastic sleeves and ring binders. Nice condition.

Outstanding and monumental work expertly made by the Benedictine nuns at Maredret Abbey, on the occasion of the celebrations organised in 1949 to commemorate the 475th anniversary of the installation in Mechelen of the Great Council created by Charles the Bold in 1473. It contains 3 ff. of text including an introduction in French and Dutch, and 360 plates including 359 large coats of arms (3 unfinished: 339, 354, 356) and 1 f. (pl. 27) used as a part title ("Conseillers"). The coats of arms have been reproduced from the manuscript of Canon de Partz (1765), completed by that of Brenaert (c. 1793). Enriched with 3 related doc. incl. a typewritten index.
Prov. Louis Theo Maes (1918-1978), Professor of History of Law at Antwerp University, member of the International Academy of Heraldry (ms. entry on f. II).
Joined: Maes, L. Th. - Het Parlement en de Grote Raad van Mechelen, 1473-1797. Antwerp-Rotterdam, (2009). (9 vol.)