Keym, Édouard

"1858-1883. To Monsieur Ferdinand de l'Eau d'Andrimont, president of the Association pour secourir les pauvres honteux". [Brussels 1883] In-f. obl., 33 x 39.5 cm: [3] ff. of ms. text in French; 59 portraits, including 2 14 x 9.5 cm, most ± 8.5 x 5.5 cm, printed in sepia on albumen paper mounted on 40 white boards and framed with Indian ink fillets, most with aut. signature of the person depicted. Red chagrin s. J. Schavye, bookbinder to H.M. the King, Brussels, wide rolled border, gilt fillets and spandrels around boards, large gilt mosaic coat of arms on upper board, gilt ribbed spine, gilt roul. on edges, long-grain green morocco linings with wide dent. and semé de points et fleurettes gilded and surrounded by gilt fillets and roul., bottle-green tabis endpapers, gilt tr. (min. epidermure on edge of upper cover, slight black trace on lower cover, spines, covers and edges slightly rubbed). In original green chagrined percaline case decorated with a gilt frame and a dedication in gilt letters "A Monsieur F. de l'Eau d'Andrimont" (wear to spines and corners, edges split on sides). Nice copy. Luxurious album offered on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the presidency of this Brussels philanthropic society, preceded by a signed dedication-title f. "Les administrateurs et visiteurs" and the speech of vice-president Ernest Reisse, all carefully calligraphed. The 59 portraits represent all the members of the association, founded in 1853 to provide financial assistance to people in difficulty belonging to the middle classes: small shopkeepers and craftsmen, commercial or administrative employees. Names include L. van Schelle, J. Teurlings, L. Chomé, J. Didisheim, A. Dupuis, Victor Hellemans, L. Raskin, V. Van Hove, J. Wouters, etc. Enriched with 1 flying portrait, on cardboard with the mark of photographer Édouard Keym. Ferdinand de l'Eau d'Andrimont (1816-1884) graduated in law from the ULB in 1840, was a lawyer at the Brussels bar and a Freemason. He was an alderman for the city of Brussels and a provincial councillor for Brabant.