240 - GANZ, Julien Album of portraits presented “to Eugène Prévinaire, governor of the National Bank, 1851–1876.” [Brussels 1876] In-f°: 28 albumen prints, 14 x 10 cm, mounted on white cardboard and framed with a sepia border; the photographer’s name and address printed beneath the frame; a few autograph signatures. (a few small foxing spots on the margins, more concentrated on the first leaf; otherwise, the prints are in very fresh condition). Red morocco leather signed J[osse] Schavye, covers edged with a wide gold lace and inlaid with oval medallions in green and taupe morocco bearing the gold initials “EP” at the corners, gold dedication on the upper cover, the Belgian coat of arms in gold and inlaid on the lower cover, plain spine with gold-embossed fleurons and repeated taupe medallions, gold-edged rounded corners, turquoise tabis linings edged with gold lace, endpapers of the same tabis, gold-edged pages (some minor scuffing on the raised bands). Housed in a gray percaline slipcase adorned with gold fillets and fleurons, bearing the gold inscription “To Mr. Eugène Prévinaire,” with faux edges of marbled paper; interior lined with black velvet (worn, tears at the joints and edges, on the lower cover, rounded corners). Superb copy. A precious memento presented to Governor E. Prévinaire (1805–1877), likely on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Bank. A liberal politician from Brussels, Prévinaire was called upon to join the Bank’s management upon its founding in 1850. He was appointed vice-governor in 1864 and governor in 1870. Most of the portraits are signed by the governor’s friends. Julien Ganz (Zurich 1877–1892 Brussels), a photographer of Swiss origin, was active in Brussels from 1874 until his death. Includes 4 loose documents: 1. Original manuscript of the speech delivered at the presentation of the album, unsigned (3 pp. on a double-leaf in-4° sheet). - 2. Sève, Édouard - E.-M.-J. Prévinaire. Brussels, Bols-Wittouck, 1864. In-8°. Brussels, printed cover from the edition (stained). Biographical note from the series “Gallery of the International Association for the Advancement of the Social Sciences,” illustrated with a photographic portrait printed on albumen paper by the Ghémar brothers. - 3-4. 2 devotional memorial photographs of Eugène Prévinaire and his widow (and cousin) Séraphine-Aldegonde Prévinaire. Ref. Directory of Belgian Photographers.