SANDERUS (Antoon Sanders, dit). Lot n° 57

Flandria illustrata, sive descriptio comitatus istius per totum terrarum orbem celeberrimi, III tomis absoluta. Tomus primus. Cologne, Cornelius van Egmondt and Associates, 1641. In-folio mounted on tabs, stiff vellum with overlays, double framed with gilt roulettes, large gilt irons in the spandrels and diamond medallion in the centre, smooth ornamented spine, brown title page, speckled edges (Dutch binding of the time). First edition of the most famous topographical description of the former county of Flanders. Volume one only: the third volume never saw the light of day, but the second one is missing from the copy. Abundant copper-engraved illustrations including a title-frontispiece, about 65 portraits, 90 views and 17 full or double page plates of maps, plans, views, etc. A copy in the Dutch edition binding, with the pasteboards on pp. 95 and 207, the half-glued engraving on p. 191 and p. 170 without the engraving added later. The map of Ghent (pp. 82-83) and the elevation of the Curia Ghentavensis (pp. 96-97) are included. From the library of the Lorraine abbey of Saint-Mihiel, with a handwritten purchase note dated 1728 on the title. Minor tears in the binding, some foxing, a few browned text leaves, a partially detached flyleaf and some minor internal defects. Bibliotheca Belgica, V, 28-35.