146 - Philips Galle - Trojan war series - 21 plates - Extremely rare

Philips Galle - Trojan war series - 21 plates - Extremely rare Description: Here an extremely rare almost complete series of the Trojan War signed 'Phls Galle excudit'. This series was for us not traceable in any collection, a few single mostly damages images rarely recorded. Even more, our series consists out of very early exquisite impressions with nice plate tone and all details, the guide lines for the text still visible on some prints. The series is almost complete, present are a magnificent title page, an explanatory text by Laurence Beyerlinck (Antwerp 1578-1627) in a nice ornamental engraved border and 20 on 24 engravings. The reason why this serie is so rare is strange, as the subject and quality of some plates is obvious. (Examples: Title engraving, Plate 1 with Juno, plate 4 with the Trojan Horse, plate 7 with the horse riders seeking shelter in a cave during a storm...) Has it to do with religious troubles? Problems with the dedication to Albert VII Archduke of Austria (?), or more likely with the death of Philips Galle himself? Based on the career of Laurentius Beyerlinck who wrote the explanary text we can assume this was not done before 1608 and Philips Galle died already in 1612, perhaps the work was not finished before his death and other hands were involved in the engraving (?) It still remains mysterious. Dimensions: 25,00 x 31,50 cm Condition: Very good early impressions without wear in very good condition without folds, tears or stains. A pair of plates (5,7,9) pressed lightly over the end of the sheet of paper at the top. On nice watermarked laid paper (oval watermark). Literature: Lawrence Beyerlinck (April 1578, Antwerp – 22 June 1627, Antwerp) was a Belgian theologian and ecclesiastical writer and encyclopedist. In 1605 he came to the ecclesiastical seminary of Antwerp, taught philosophy and theology and later became superior. In 1608 he was canon, censor, and theologian of the church of Antwerp; in 1614 he was made protonotary. Beyerlinck was a priest, a rhetorician, orator, and administrator, and engaged continually in preaching and writing. Medium: Engravings Date: 1608-1612