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One of the most important books published on the Low Countries in the 16th century

GUICCIARDINI, Lodovico.
Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi, altrimenti detti Germania inferiore. Con tutte le carte di geographia del paese, & col ritratto al naturale di molte terre principali; rineduta di nuovo , & ampliata per tutto la terz a volta dal medesimo autore. Al gran're Cattolico don Filippo d'Austria. Con amplissimo indice di tutte le cose piu memorabili.


With richly designed engraved allegorical frontispiece of Low Countries (<I>Belgia</I>), richly designed engraved architectural title in its first state with printed text, richly engraved plate with a border of the coat of arms of the 16 Provinces and that of Brabant together with coat of arms of Philip II in centre pasted in, engraved plate with allegorical depiction of the Arts and Sciences and architectural border with portrait of Philip II in centre, large woodcut coat of arms of Guicciardini, 64 double-page engraved maps and views, 6 full-page engraved maps and views, 4 single pages with on each 2 engraved maps, woodcut headpieces and initials.

With richly designed engraved allegorical frontispiece of Low Countries (<I>Belgia</I>), richly designed engraved architectural title in its first state with printed text, richly engraved plate with a border of the coat of arms of the 16 Provinces and that of Brabant together with coat of arms of Philip II in centre pasted in, engraved plate with allegorical depiction of the Arts and Sciences and architectural border with portrait of Philip II in centre, large woodcut coat of arms of Guicciardini, 64 double-page engraved maps and views, 6 full-page engraved maps and views, 4 single pages with on each 2 engraved maps, woodcut headpieces and initials.

With richly designed engraved allegorical frontispiece of Low Countries (<I>Belgia</I>), richly designed engraved architectural title in its first state with printed text, richly engraved plate with a border of the coat of arms of the 16 Provinces and that of Brabant together with coat of arms of Philip II in centre pasted in, engraved plate with allegorical depiction of the Arts and Sciences and architectural border with portrait of Philip II in centre, large woodcut coat of arms of Guicciardini, 64 double-page engraved maps and views, 6 full-page engraved maps and views, 4 single pages with on each 2 engraved maps, woodcut headpieces and initials.

With richly designed engraved allegorical frontispiece of Low Countries (<I>Belgia</I>), richly designed engraved architectural title in its first state with printed text, richly engraved plate with a border of the coat of arms of the 16 Provinces and that of Brabant together with coat of arms of Philip II in centre pasted in, engraved plate with allegorical depiction of the Arts and Sciences and architectural border with portrait of Philip II in centre, large woodcut coat of arms of Guicciardini, 64 double-page engraved maps and views, 6 full-page engraved maps and views, 4 single pages with on each 2 engraved maps, woodcut headpieces and initials.

With richly designed engraved allegorical frontispiece of Low Countries (<I>Belgia</I>), richly designed engraved architectural title in its first state with printed text, richly engraved plate with a border of the coat of arms of the 16 Provinces and that of Brabant together with coat of arms of Philip II in centre pasted in, engraved plate with allegorical depiction of the Arts and Sciences and architectural border with portrait of Philip II in centre, large woodcut coat of arms of Guicciardini, 64 double-page engraved maps and views, 6 full-page engraved maps and views, 4 single pages with on each 2 engraved maps, woodcut headpieces and initials.



Antwerp, Christopher Plantin, 1588. Folio. Contemporary decorated gilt vellum, g.e., remnants of ties. With richly designed engraved allegorical frontispiece of Low Countries (Belgia), richly designed engraved architectural title in its first state with printed text, richly engraved plate with a border of the coat of arms of the 16 Provinces and that of Brabant together with coat of arms of Philip II in centre pasted in, engraved plate with allegorical depiction of the Arts and Sciences and architectural border with portrait of Philip II in centre, large woodcut coat of arms of Guicciardini, 64 double-page engraved maps and views, 6 full-page engraved maps and views, 4 single pages with on each 2 engraved maps, woodcut headpieces and initials. (24), 432, (18) pp.

Third Italian edition of one of the most important books published on the Low Countries in the 16th century, by Lodovico (or Luduvico) Guicciardini, being the first detailed description of the principalities and cities of the region which assured the author instant fame. It was the first travel guide of the Netherlands and became immediately popular, with over fifty editions in the 16th and seventeenth century alone.
This 1588 edition is the last and at the same time the most beautiful edition published in the Southern Netherlands. In this edition Guicciardini shows us the graduate change concerning the (politcal) situation of the Low Countries as a result of the enduring resistance against the king of Spain. This current edition is a reprint of Plantin's Italian edition of 1581, but with the addition in the introductory part of Justus Lipsius' Latin poem as it was printed in the French edition of 1582. Guicciardini's dedicatory to Philip II dated October 20, 1566 is also reproduced, but a new note by the author to the reader dated November 20, 1587 replaces the older one dated 1566. For this edition, Plantin used the improved and numbered copperplates of the French edition of 1582. The portrait of Philip II however is almost identical of those from the 1581 and 1582 editions, but is printed from a new copperplate (this portrait bears a.o. the small flower consisting of 8 instead of 7 balls at the upper side of the caption and to HISPANIARVM is added the second I). In the coat of arms of Philip the coat of arms of Portugal is now added. Also, the copperplate of the cityplan of Antwerp is adjusted because of the demolition activities on the citadel and the year MDLXXI was changed into MDLXXXVII.
Guicciardini's work was published in Italian, French, Dutch, Latin, and even in German and English, all through the 16th and part of the 17th century, all in folio. The illustrations in the numerous editions greatly vary, and were often renewed or replaced. The book is divided into sections, each devoted to a particular region. It really is a sophisticated traveller's guide, with emphasis on the topography of the various regions and the major cities, which are beautifully illustrated by engraved plans and views. But the book fully covers all aspects of contemporary life in each area as well, including extensive treatment of the fine arts, trade and the commercial concerns of each region. It is an important source for early Dutch history as well, so it is studied and republished until this very day.
Lodovico Guicciardini (Florence 1521 - Antwerp 1589), a was an Italian businessman and author. He left Italy for Lyons in 1538 and shortly afterwards he settles down in Antwerp where, together with his brother Giovan-Battista, he started dealing in cloth, goldthread and similar commodities. As one of the many Italians in Antwerp who tried to make a living, Guicciardini would have remained unknown if he had not published in 1567 his 'Description of the Whole Netherlands'.

Fine copy.- (Some occ. spotting).
Voet 1280; Guicciardini illustratus 8; Tiele 1877; Touwaide 1973, 81-93; Idem 1974, no. 8; Boele van Hensbroek 1877, no. VIII;cf. Touwaide, Messire Lodovico Guicciardini gentilhomme Florentin (Nieuwkoop, 1975).

Related Subjects: 16th Century  Guide Books  Italy  Low Countries  Maps  Netherlands  Plantin  Travel & Voyages 

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