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Rare original edition (one of two issues) of the printed statutes and ordinances of the Order of the Golden Fleece

[GOLDEN FLEECE].
La Toison d'Or, ou recueil des statuts et ordonnances du noble ordre de la Toison d'or, leurs confirmations, changemens, additions, ceremonies, immunitez, exemptions, prééminences, honneurs & bulles papales depuis l'institution jusques à present. Avec les remarques sur le contenue desdits statutes & ordonnances.

Woodcut ornament on title, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials.

Cologne, for Pierre Sweitzer ('se vend à Bruxelles, chez Eug. Henri Fricx'), 1689. 8vo. Contemporary marbled calf, spine gilt in compartments with title on two pasted labels, marbled endpapers, red painted edges. Woodcut ornament on title, woodcut head- and endpieces, woodcut initials. (22), 306 pp.

Rare original edition of the statutes and ordinances of the order of the Golden Fleece (French: Ordre de la Toison d'Or), the famous order of chivalry founded in 1430 by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Isabel of Aviz. There are two issues of this edition, both equally rare: one with the imprint 'Cologne, Pierre Sweitzer' and our issue with the addition ''Se vend é Bruxelles, chez Eug. Henri Fricx'.
The Order of the Golden Fleece was modelled on the English Order of the Garter. Like the Garter it was restricted to a limited number of knights, initially 24 but increased to 50 in 1516 - plus the sovereign. It received further privileges unusual to any order of knighthood: the sovereign undertook to consult the order before going to war; all disputes between the knights were to be settled by the order; at each chapter the deeds of each knight were held in review, and punishments and admonitions were dealt out to offenders, and to this the sovereign was expressly subject; the knights could claim as of right to be tried by their fellows on charges of rebellion, heresy and treason, and Charles V conferred on the order exclusive jurisdiction over all crimes committed by the knights. The badge of the Order, in the form of a sheepskin, was suspended from a jewelled collar of firesteels in the shape of the letter B, for Burgundy.

The work starts with a biography of the founder of the Order, Philip the Good, followed by a 'Table des Statuts et ordonnances ...' (pp. 1-51), 'Table des additions et alterations' (pp. 52-100), Papal bulls (pp. 100-14), Letters by Philip the Good, letters to the King of Spain, letters to and from the States of Brabant regarding immunity, etc. (pp. 115-56), a laudatory poem in Latin on the Order (pp. 157-68), lists of the Chancellors, Treasurers, Kings of the armes (Roy d'armes dit Toison d'or), and clerks (Greffiers) (pp. 169-207), 'Serments' (pp. 208-14), Ceremonies (pp. 215-`58), 'Remarques' (observations and notes) (pp. 259-306).

Good copy.- (Binding used with pasted paper labels with shelf-mark on spine; some occ. spotting on pp. 259-68).

VD17 14: 083131D (cf. 12:650764U (the other issue); Weller, Druckorte II, p. 47: 'fingiert', printed in Brussels).

Related Subjects: 17th Century Freemasonry French Religious Orders

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