Collection - Noblesse Belge - 1847-1883

A unique overview of the development of Belgian nobility from the Ancien Régime to the late 19th century – three rare standard works that together document the bestowal, confirmation, and official leadership of noble titles over more than two centuries.
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1. Listes des Titres de Noblesse, Chevalerie et autres marques d'honneur accordées par les Souverains des Pays-Bas, depuis 1659 jusqu'à 1794; précédées d'une notice historique.
Bruxelles, A. Vandale, 1847. 376 pp. Half-leather binding of the period, 18 x 11 cm, fore edge broken - cover firm, otherwise a clean copy.

The work lists in chronological order all known elevations to the nobility, knighthoods, and other honorary distinctions in the Habsburg Netherlands between 1659 and the end of the Ancien Régime. It is complemented by a historical introduction on the development of the nobility and extensive registers.

Enclosed: handwritten and typewritten notes, and a typewritten letter to Xavier de Ghellinck Vaernewyck.
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2. Liste de la Noblesse titrée avant 1793.
Bruxelles, Imprimerie de P. Rossel, 1873. 72 pp., later high-quality half-leather binding, color-endpapers, original paperback bound in, 21 x 13 cm, very nice copy

This work is devoted exclusively to titled nobility of the former Austrian Netherlands before the French Revolution. It records princely, ducal, marquis, count, viscount, and baron titles with their respective families and succession rights.

With the heraldic ex-libris of the library “Bibliotheca Elseghemensis” of the Belgian noble family de Ghellinck d'Elseghem Vaernewyck
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3. Noblesse. Extrait de l'Almanach Royal Officiel de 1883.
Royaume de Belgique, Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, 1883. 73 pp., later high-quality half-leather binding, color-endpapers, 25 x 16 cm, very nice copy

Contains the official directory of Belgian nobility in the year 1883. It lists all recognized noble families with their respective titles, places of residence, as well as the hereditary and primogeniture rights associated with each title.

With the heraldic ex-libris and gold-embossed coat of arms on the cover of the library “Bibliotheca Elseghemensis” of the Belgian noble family de Ghellinck d'Elseghem Vaernewyck
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Consistently solid and well-preserved copies in differently designed half-leather bindings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Paper predominantly clean and fresh, only a few with light foxing or slight browning. Overall a very good preserved set of an interesting collection of rare works."