SERENISSIMI PRINCIPIS FERDINANDI HISPANIARUM INFANTIS S.R.E. CARDINALIS TRIUMPHALIS INTROITUS IN FLANDRIAE METROPOLIUM GANDAVUM

Antwerp: Johannes Meursius, 1636. FIRST EDITION. 532 x 380 mm. (21 x 15"). 4 p.l., 68, [4] pp.
Original stiff vellum, covers with the arms of the city of Ghent in gilt at center, flat spine with seven gilt fleurs-de-lys. Engraved vignette on title by Cornelis Galle after Peter Paul Rubens and 40 (of 42) FINE ENGRAVED PLATES, two of these folding, by Galle, Pieter de Jode, J. Neefs, and others. Lacking plates 23 ("Charles and Africa") and 32 ("Venus beseeching Mars"). Front pastedown with bookplate of J. D. van Langenhove. Landwehr, "Splendid Ceremonies" 96; Lipperheide 2663; Vinet 626; Brunet I, 728. ◆Binding rather soiled and splayed, a few small chips in the vellum, title page a bit stained around the edges and with lower margin strengthened on verso, tears in five plates (four of these neatly mended, the other less so), margins with minor stains, smudges, and thumbing; not without some condition issues, but still a pleasing book internally, the work done on very strong paper, the attractive plates richly impressed, and with deep impressions of the type.

Praised by Brunet for its "beautiful plates," this fête book commemorates the "Joyous Entry" into Ghent of the Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand (1609-41), recently named governor of the Spanish Netherlands (an area incorporating most of modern Belgium and Luxembourg, plus parts of northern France, the southern Netherlands, and western Germany). The son of the King of Spain and his queen, who was the sister of the Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand was made a cardinal at the age of 10(!). Despite the ecclesiastical office, he was never ordained to the priesthood; he was more of a soldier at heart. As the Thirty Years War was then in progress, Ferdinand undertook the journey to his new posting accompanied by an army, and his troops engaged in several battles, most notably a victory over the Swedes at Nördlingen. This triumph was celebrated in the pageantry of his entry into Ghent, and in the plates here. There is a large folding plate of the Battle of Nördlingen, as well as plates showing Ferdinand leading his men and consulting with his ally in the battle, the King of Hungary. The decorations for the Joyous Entry were overseen by Peter Paul Rubens, court painter to Ferdinand's predecessor as ruler of the Spanish Netherlands, the Archduchess Isabella. Rubens (1577-1640) also produced the portraits here of Ferdinand and his father, Philip IV of Spain. The triumphal arches and other festive trimmings for Ferdinand's arrival procession are depicted in these plates, along with various allegorical scenes of classical subjects, from gods to real-life conquerors. The revelries accompanying Ferdinand's arrival, including fireworks and theatrical presentations, are also pictured..