Le Grand Théâtre sacré [- profane] du Duché de Brabant.

3 vol., large folio (wormholes, overall browned and occ. heavily stained, some sm. marg. tears, e.g., vol. 1, pp. 48, upper margin trimmed of pl. p. 236).

Contemp. mottled calf, gilt-decorated covers and spines with raised bands, red edges (hinges weak, bindings strong but used). Large paper copy.

Two uniformly bound chorographic works on the Archbishoprics of Antwerp, Mechelen, 's-Hertogenbosch and Brabant Wallon. 1. Le Grand Théâtre sacré. The Hague, C. Van Lom, 1729. 4 parts in 2 vol.: [6]-394, [2]-40-[2]-212-[2]-134-14 pp.; 283 (of 284) pl. (pl. missing: vol. 1: "pag. 317. N°1", i.e. the tomb of the abbots of Grimbergen). 1st French ed., a redesign of the "Groot Kerkelyk toneel" (1st Dutch ed.: 1727) that was wrongly attributed to Jacques le Roy. Abundantly illustrated with engr. by Fr. Harrewijn, J.B. Jongelinx and P.B. Bouttats, a.o. figuring 173 funerary monuments and tombstones, 83 coats of arms, views of abbeys, churches, castles and convents, 26 portraits of bishops and archbishops, 2 maps (archbishopric of Mechelen and diocese of Antwerp) and 5 in-text illustrations. - 2. Le Roy, Jacques - Le Grand Théâtre profane. The Hague, C. Van Lom, 1730. 2 parts in 1 vol.: [4]-64-[4]-151-[12] pp.; 71 (of 72) pl. (map of Brabant missing). Only French and entirely reworked ed. of the compilation of the "Topographia historica Gallo-Brabantiae" of 1692 and the "Castella & Praetoria Nobilium Brabantiae" of 1699. With 67 engr. pl. figuring plans and perspectives of the cities of Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp and 's-Hertogenbosch, and many castles, also illustrated with the coats of arms of the cities of Brabant (3 pl.), heraldic enamels (1 pl.), seals (1 in-text ill.) and 5 sm. in-text ill.
Ref. BB V:319-329:T. 57 and V:368-369 (Théâtre sacré). - BB III:854-857 (Théâtre profane).
Prov. Van Bavegem - Dendermonde (collector's label).