41 - [HISTORY & THE HOUSE OF LIGNE] - DE REIFFENBERG Frédéric-Auguste / SERRURE Constant-Philippe

[HISTORY & THE HOUSE OF LIGNE] - DE REIFFENBERG Frédéric-Auguste / SERRURE Constant-Philippe A set of two monographs and a historical catalog dedicated to the prestigious House of Ligne: - Frédéric-Auguste de Reiffenberg (Baron), "Field Marshal Prince Charles-Joseph de Ligne," [Brussels, Imprimerie de M. Haÿez, 1845] Quarto. Contemporary water-green glazed half-calf. Spine with 4 raised bands adorned with gold beads. Author’s name and title gilded lengthwise. Normal wear and tear. Rare foxing. A rare offprint from the original edition, excerpted from Volume XIX of the *Nouveaux Mémoires de l’Académie royale de Belgique* (read at the session of July 5, 1845). The chief curator of the Royal Library skillfully traces the military career, literary work, and flamboyant life of this great cosmopolitan nobleman, a close friend of the sovereigns of the Age of Enlightenment. References: National Bibliography of Belgium, I, p. 507; Vercruysse, Bibliography of the Writings of the Prince de Ligne, p. 183. - SERRURE, Constant-Philippe, “Notice on the Numismatic Collection of His Highness the Prince de Ligne, of Amblise and Épinoy,” Ghent, C. Annoot-Braeckman, 1847 8vo. Contemporary dark green half-percale binding. Spine with 4 raised bands. Author’s name and title in gold lettering. Marbled edges. Handwritten dedication by the author to Kervyn de Volkaersbeke on the half-title page. First edition and first printing of this monumental 444-page numismatic inventory. The Ghent professor compiles a complete critical catalog of the princely collection, focusing on the extremely rare feudal coinage of the Southern Netherlands. The volume is adorned with a lithographed frontispiece by C. Onghena and four plates. References: Cumont, *Bibliographie numismatique belge*, p. 114; *Bulletin du Bibliophile belge*, vol. IV, p. 325. A remarkable thematic compilation combining a biographical study of the lineage’s most famous representative with a valuable inventory of his cabinet of monetary curiosities. Provenance: from the Library of Philippe Kervyn of Volkaersbeke (ex-libris)