First and only edition of one of the most sumptuous festival books printed at the Plantin Press. This splendidly illustrated work records the Joyous Entries of the newly-wed Archduke Albert of Austria (1559-1621) and his bride Infanta Isabella of Spain (1566-1633) into Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Valenciennes in 1599-1600. The work contains detailed accounts of the festivities, written by eye-witnesses, together with a short history of 's-Hertogenbosch. The beautiful plates, made by Pieter van der Borcht the Elder (ca. 1530-1608) depict the triumphal arches, fireworks, processions, and tableaux vivants present at the entry in Antwerp, and also show the costumes of the period in great detail.
After the death of Archduke Ernest of Austria in 1595, King Phillip II of Spain appointed Albert and Isabella as Archduke and -duchess of the Catholic Southern Netherlands, which were still in turmoil after the establishment of the Dutch Republic in the Northern part of the Low Countries. To regain trust and loyalty, the couple quickly planned their tour. Joyous Entries not only ritually marked the first time a ruler arrived to take possession of a city, but also laid out the duties and obligations of rulers and their subjects. The central act was an exchange of vows between the sovereign and representatives from the city. The connection between the two entities was reinforced by the fact that the ceremony took place in the commercial heart of the city or before its walls. Due to the difficult relationship between Spain and the Low Countries, Albert and Isabella's Joyous Entries were highly politically charged. However, as there was hope that the new sovereigns would finally bring peace, they were also among the largest and most celebrated.
Jan Boghe (1555-1609) studied law in Louvain, and theology under Cardinal Bellarmine in Rome. When he returned to the Southern Low Countries, he was appointed secretary of the city of Antwerp in 1586, a position he held until his death. He was a collector of books and composed some literary works, including the festival book for the Joyous Entry of Archduke Ernest of Austria in 1594, and an adaptation of the Psalms (1608-1609).
With a (torn) French letter from 1929 with information about the work inserted between the front end papers, a contemporary ownership annotation on the title page ("Monrij Elckingh (?)"), and a faded library stamp at the bottom ("Könich... staats eigenthum"). The vellum is somewhat soiled and scratched, especially on the spine, the boards are somewhat warped, the edges of the boards are scuffed, the lower edge has flattened because of the weight of the book. The work is slightly browned and foxed throughout, with some leaves affected more than others. Otherwise in good condition. Berlin Kat. 2945; Bibl. Belgica I, 308-311; Funk, p. 281; Landwehr, Splendid ceremonies, 62; Lipperheide 2657; STCV 6608990; USTC 1003316; cf. Wurzel, E., The Joyous Entry of Albert and Isabella in Lille. In: Royal studies journal 3, no. 2, 2016, pp. 18-47.