Flemish ledger binding cover with coat of arms of Philip the Handsome.

Blind-stamped calf, ± 29,5 x 36,5 cm (second cover partly missing, middle strap incomplete rubbing, some sm. holes and tears, a few marg. parts missing).

Exceptional specimen of a curious ledger binding identical to the one acquired in 1866 by F. Van der Haeghen at the sale of Canon Carton's library. It covered a "Registre van de manschepen [...] van Pitthein [Pittem] [...] vernieut int jaer 1575 [...]". The manuscript was sold to the Bruges archives, while the cover was added to the collections of the library of the city and university of Ghent. It was described by P. Bergmans. Our specimen belongs to the same series of registers. It may seem odd that a register from the late 16th century should bear the coat of arms of Philip the Handsome (1493-1506), Duke of Burgundy, Sovereign of the Netherlands and King of Castile under the name Philip I. However, his coat of arms can be found on other bindings far later than his death. The coat of arms is surrounded by an inscription in French, in Gothic characters: "Tenes bon compte en ceste livre". The three leather bands reinforcing the spine are characteristic of 15th-16th century ledger bindings. The middle band included a metal buckle (here missing) intended to belt the entire cover.
Ref. Bergmans, Paul - "Reliure de registre de comptes", in: Inventaire archéologique de Gand. Ghent, 1897-1909, n. 234. - De Jonghe I:5-6 (pl. I = copy of Ghent University Library).