STRADA, FAMIANI - De Bello Belgico, Decas PrimaDeces II.

With 2 engraved titles of the 'Leo Belgicus', with one paw resting on a shield bearing the title, large woodcut printer's device on the colophons, and 30 richly engraved views and plans of battles and sieges, 28 double-page and 2 full-page, by Johanness W.Bauer, J.Miele, Jacomo Cortese, a.o.
With printed prize-leaf of the Paris Jesuit College at the beginning of each volume, filled in by hand, signed and dated 1698, and sealed. (10), 374, (88); (12),480, (56) pp.
2 Examples of the famous Leo Belgicus map are included. Among the greatest decorative works of early cartography is a series of arresting maps showing The Netherlands and Belgium in the shape of a lion.
This item is the first map in a first state included in The Bello Belgico , written by Famianus Strada (1572-1649), Jesuit and teacher at the Collegium Romanum in Rome, was a pro-Spanish and pro-Catholic book on the Dutch war of independence. Editions in Italian, Dutch, French, Spanish and even in the Polish language followed, but only the Latin and Dutch editions have the lion maps.