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Details
GUICCIARDINI, Lodovico (1521-1589). Description de touts les Pais-Bas. Translated from Italian into French by Jacques de Belleforest. Antwerp: Christopher Plantin, 1582.
2° (311 x 202mm). Engraved title with letterpress text, engraved allegorical frontispiece of 'Belgia', full-page engraving of the arms of the Netherlandish provinces with arms of Philip II pasted into central compartment, full-page allegorical engraving with motto at centre, and 79 engraved maps, plans and views on 76 sheets, many double-page, numbered 2-78, and beginning with two unnumbered plates. (Armorial plate with slight loss through adhesion, title engraving just shaved at top, occasional very light dampstaining, ink smear in one leaf, a few unprinted letters on one engraving supplied in early manuscript.) 18th-century polished calf, gilt spine, marbled endleaves, red sprinkled edges (slight loss at foot of spine, slight wear at corners and on lower cover). Provenance: inscription erased from first leaf, a few contemporary marginal annotations (slightly shaved).
Second, enlarged edition in French of 'the most famed description of the whole Low Countries' (Labore et Constantia). First published in Italian in 1567, Guicciardini's work was the first trustworthy and detailed description of the Netherlandish Provinces; it remains a useful source for the history of the 'golden age'. Plantin recognised its importance to the young state and issued editions (Italian in 1581 and 1588; French in 1582) revised and augmented by the author and with engraved plates, some of which are based on plans found in Ortelius's Theatrum orbis terrarum and Braun and Hogenberg's Civitates orbis terrarum. The French edition is newly translated by Jacques de Belleforest, and contains 23 illustrations which were not delivered in time for the Italian 1581 edition. As Herman de la Fontaine Verwey has noted, the armorial plate exists in 3 states, reflecting the political situation. The present copy has the arms of Philip II pasted on; he was succeeded by the Duke of Anjou in February 1582 ('The history of Guicciardini's description of the Low Countries', Quaerendo, 1982, 22-51). Without the additional 4 pages of text by Plantin and table of illustrations found in some copies. Labore et Constantia 242bis; Voet 1278.
2° (311 x 202mm). Engraved title with letterpress text, engraved allegorical frontispiece of 'Belgia', full-page engraving of the arms of the Netherlandish provinces with arms of Philip II pasted into central compartment, full-page allegorical engraving with motto at centre, and 79 engraved maps, plans and views on 76 sheets, many double-page, numbered 2-78, and beginning with two unnumbered plates. (Armorial plate with slight loss through adhesion, title engraving just shaved at top, occasional very light dampstaining, ink smear in one leaf, a few unprinted letters on one engraving supplied in early manuscript.) 18th-century polished calf, gilt spine, marbled endleaves, red sprinkled edges (slight loss at foot of spine, slight wear at corners and on lower cover). Provenance: inscription erased from first leaf, a few contemporary marginal annotations (slightly shaved).
Second, enlarged edition in French of 'the most famed description of the whole Low Countries' (Labore et Constantia). First published in Italian in 1567, Guicciardini's work was the first trustworthy and detailed description of the Netherlandish Provinces; it remains a useful source for the history of the 'golden age'. Plantin recognised its importance to the young state and issued editions (Italian in 1581 and 1588; French in 1582) revised and augmented by the author and with engraved plates, some of which are based on plans found in Ortelius's Theatrum orbis terrarum and Braun and Hogenberg's Civitates orbis terrarum. The French edition is newly translated by Jacques de Belleforest, and contains 23 illustrations which were not delivered in time for the Italian 1581 edition. As Herman de la Fontaine Verwey has noted, the armorial plate exists in 3 states, reflecting the political situation. The present copy has the arms of Philip II pasted on; he was succeeded by the Duke of Anjou in February 1582 ('The history of Guicciardini's description of the Low Countries', Quaerendo, 1982, 22-51). Without the additional 4 pages of text by Plantin and table of illustrations found in some copies. Labore et Constantia 242bis; Voet 1278.
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