12 - [HISTORY - HERALDRY] - Charles Joseph de Francquen

[HISTORY - HERALDRY] - Charles Joseph de Francquen "A Historical, Genealogical, Chronological, and Nobiliary Compendium of the Illustrious and Noble Houses and Families of the Kingdom, Preceded by the Historical Genealogy of the Royal House of the Netherlands, Nassau-Orange" Brussels, Imprimerie de Demanet, 1826 In-4°. Bottle-green glossy half-calf with small corners. Spine with 4 raised bands adorned with gold decoration, gold fillets, and decorated and gilded end caps. Normal wear and foxing. First edition of this precious and monumental heraldic compendium, published during the reign of William I at the time of the union of the Northern and Southern Netherlands. Printed with great care by Demanet, the volume—illustrated with the coat of arms of the royal house of the Netherlands, numerous woodcut coats of arms within the text, and 15 large fold-out genealogical charts, opens with a comprehensive historical study devoted to the ruling House of Nassau-Orange, followed by extremely detailed monographic entries on 22 of the greatest noble and illustrious families of Belgium and the Netherlands, such as the Houses of Arenberg, Croÿ, Lalaing, Gavre, and Blondel. The numerous fold-out genealogical charts and engravings of coats of arms lend this publication outstanding documentary and heraldic value for the study of the 19th-century European aristocracy. Despite the mention of “Volume One” (crossed out) on the title page, this work constitutes a complete volume, as no other volume was published subsequently. Provenance: from the Library of Philippe de Volkaersbeke (ex-libris) References: Saffroy, II, 22201