Theatrum principum. [Antwerp, ca. 1644/1650]. Small folio (28 x 18.5 cm). With an engraved allegorical title-page by Pieter de Jode after Erasmus Quellinus; 91 portraits (plus 1 repeat) of popes, emperors, kings, noblemen and their spouses, 89 signed by Pieter de Jode and 2 unsigned. They were engraved after Aegidius Rucholle, Titiaan, Anthony van Dyck, Pieter van Mol, Otto Vaenius, Rubens, Cornelis Galle, Cornelis de Vos, Gaspar de Crayer, Coenraerd Waumans, Charles Woutier, Franciscus Nys and T. Willebroorts Bossaerts. Contemporary vellum.

[93] engraved ll.Very rare early collection of De Jode's portraits, published with his own engraved title-page. A few give dates of engraving or publication from 1638 to 1644. They were originally published in several series and some perhaps first as single prints. De Jode probably assembled the present set, printed on at least five and probably more paper stocks, from the separately printed series and added the title-page. The title-page appears to be printed from an earlier state of the plate used for the better known Theatrum pontificum, imperatorum, regum, ducum, principum, etc. pace et bello illustrium (Antwerp, Pieter de Jode, 1651). Versions with these two titles are known with 78 to 180 portraits, but Kramm says those with 180 include some by various other engravers of lesser quality. The copy auctioned by White in 1787 (and apparently the same copy in White auctions of 1792 and 1793) was described as published at Cologne in 1642.The beautifully engraved portraits themselves vary in plate size (from 14 x 11 to 18 x 15 cm) and in design, reflecting their origins in various series. Those engraved after painted portraits by Antony van Dyck have been especially valued: "Diese porträtstiche nach Van Dyck gehören durch ihre glänzende Technik u. ihre geistreiche Auffassung, die die Schlichtheit Van Dycks zu barocker Bravour steigert, zu den bedeutendsten Leistungen des fläm. Reproduktionstiches" (Thieme-Becker 19, p. 33). Two portraits are dated 1601 and 1603, but it is not certain any were engraved that early. It is nevertheless generally supposed that some were engraved by Pieter de Jode I (1570-1634) and that the series was continued by his son Pieter de Jode II (1606-post 1674).Good copy with the stencilled(?) owner's inscription "Biblioteque de Presle" (in Brie?), with owner's inscription on first fly-leaf: "Francisci Ignatii ... regis sanctiori Concilio secretarii 1654", and engraved bookplate of Hubert Dupont on front fly-leaf.l Cf. Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) IX, pp. 212-219 (ca. 20 portraits); Kramm, Vlaamsche kunstschilders, 1857, p. 815 (1651 Theatrum pontificum); Van Sommeren, Portretten, passim (individual portraits).