176. "Narration of the Solemn Ceremony of Inauguration of Charles VI of the Holy Roman Empire in 1717 as Count of Flanders", by Augustin Graet, French, Gent, 1719, with seven large engravings, rare, collectable item

Selling price

EUR 2.250

Session

Tue, 7 October 2025 12:00

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Printed work at Ghent in the publisher Augustine Graet at Anje in 1719. Folio format with 32 pages, watermarked paper, with 40 lines on a full page, characters printed in red and black ink, numerous typographic elements, initials, final vignettes, title page adorned with the Imperial Coat of Arms of Austria, the engraving at the beginning of the book represents a votive tableau dedicated to Emperor Charles VI, made by Ioan B. van Volxsom and engraved by M. Beylbrouck. The bibliophile value of the book is enhanced by an ex-libris sticker, probably owned by the first owner of the book in the 18th century (M. le Bon G. de Joigny). Publisher Augustine Graet's text provides a meticulous day-by-day account of the festivities, including the departure of the cavalcade from Brussels on October 16th and its arrival at the Mont Blandin Abbey in Ghent, the musical schedule of the Liturgy at St. Bavo, and especially the opulent splendor of the inauguration on the afternoon of the 18th at Marché du Vendredi (Vrijdagmarkt, Ghent's largest public market), for which a huge stage had been specifically designed by architect Jacob Colin. The inauguration engraving - almost a meter wide - is signed by Colin, C.Eykens and the engraver J.B. Berterham, who also carved the interior of the Cathedral. A third plate depicts a rather terrifying triumphal arch, celebrating the expansion of the Austrian Empire with pikes bearing the severed heads of Turkish generals. Although Charles VI acceded as Count of Flanders in 1713, the drawn-out transfer of the province from the Spanish Habsburgs to the Austrian Habsburgs delayed the festivities until 1717, at which point no expense was spared to celebrate the inauguration. Graet's festival book even declares Charles as the "King of Spain", even though that title had already been won in the Spanish Succession War by Philip V.

Dimensions

width 28 cm, height 44.5 cm

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