Houwaert, Sommaire beschrijvinghe... Aerts-Hertoge Matthias, Antwerp, 1579, green vellum with Hoffmann arms

HOUWAERT, JAN BAPTIST. Sommare beschrijvinghe vande triumphelijcke Incomst vanden... Aerts-hertoge Matthias, binnen die Princelijcke stadt van Brussele, in t'iaer ons Heeren M.D.LXXVIII. den xviij dach Januarij. Midtsgaders die tanneelen, poincten, figuren ende spectaculen, die inde voorseyde incompste (ter eeren van sijne doorluchticheyt) zijn verthoont ghevveest, met meer ander saken, die doen ter tijt gheschiet zijn. Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1579 [bound with:]

Oratie der Ambassadeuren vanden doorluchtighen Prince Matthias Aertshertoge van Oostenrijcke… Verhaelt inden Rijckxdach ghehouden tot Wormes, voor die Raetsheeren ghedeputeert by die Princen Electeurs, ende ander Ambassadeurs ende Ghecommitteerde van t'heylich Roomsche Rijcke, in t'iaer ons Heeren M.D.LXXVIII. den svuensten dach van Meye. Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1578

A commemoration of the entrance of Matthias, Archduke of Austria (1557-1619) into Brussels in January 1578, who was the choice of the States General for the post of governor general (William, prince of Orange would enter Brussels later that year, also commemorated in similar fashion by Houwaert; Voet 1411). This is bound with Houwaert's translation of a speech by Philippe de Marnix to the Diet of Worms seeking support for the States General of the Netherlands in their struggle against the Spanish. The woodcut illustrations are most likely by Antoon van Leest.

Hoffmann owned a substantial library of more than ten thousand volumes, which were often bound in green vellum, as here; one of Hoffmann's titles, Grünbüchel, means "little green book". The binding was most likely made in Prague.

2 works in one volume, 4to (190 x 140 mm). Gothic, roman and civilité type, 24 lines plus headline. collation: A-I⁸ K⁴ l⁸: 92 leaves (last leaf blank); A-E⁸ F⁶: 46 leaves (last leaf blank). Woodcut Plantin device on both title-pages, large woodcut armorial on A2 verso in each part, woodcut initials and tailpieces, some text within woodcut cartouches, full-page woodcut illustrations. (Occasional light staining or foxing.)

Binding: Near-contemporary green vellum gilt (196 x 149 mm), probably made in Prague ca 1600, armorial stamp of Ferdinand Hoffmann zu Grünbüchel und Strechau on covers, border of a small gilt roll-tool within fillets of scored (unpainted) vellum, flat spine gilt with manuscript lettering on an uncoloured section of the spine, blue and red speckled edges, stubs of two pairs of green silk ties. (Binding slightly rubbed, small cracks on spine, endleaves browned.)

Provenance: Ferdinand, baron Hoffmann zu Grünbüchel und Strechau (1540-1607, privy counsellor to Rudolf II), arms on binding and large engraved armorial bookplate pasted to verso of first title-page — [his library acquired in 1679 by the Princes of Dietrichstein, Schloss Nikolsburg, Moravia], sale, Bibliothek Alexander Fürst Dietrichstein, Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Luzern, 21 November 1933, lot 127 — Pierre Berès (1913-2008), sale, Pierre Bergé & Associés, Paris, 28 October 2005, lot 61. Acquisition: Purchased in 2009 from Robin Halwas, London. References: Voet 1410 & 1409; Watanabe-O'Kelly 2705