Very rare first French edition of a historical account of the second siege of Bergen op Zoom (1622) during the Eighty Years' War, beautifully bound by the Swiss bookbinder Hans Asper (1880-ca. 1941). Bergen op Zoom was besieged by the Spanish Marquis Ambrosio Spinola from 18 July until 30 October 1622, which ended because of the arrival of the Dutch army under command of Prince Maurits of Orange. The events have here been described by three eyewitnesses, namely the minsters of the town: Lambertus de Rycke (1575-1658), Nathan Vayus (1581-1615) and Job du Rieu (1578-1627). The present work is quite rare, as the STCN mentions only three copies in institutions, and we have not been able to find any other copies in sales records of the past hundred years.
The work was first printed in 1623 in Dutch with the same imprint, but the present French edition appeared in the same year. After the title with the "Octroy" on its verso, dated Middelburg, 14 September 1623, follow the dedication to the States General and Prince Maurits, and 10 laudatory poems. The text itself is followed by lists of names of the protagonists during the siege, including the magistrate of Bergen op Zoom and the commanding officers of both armies. The last page contains the errata. In 1867, Charles L.A. Campan edited a new edition of the French text with an extensive introduction and notes.
With the name of the Swiss bookbinder Hans Asper (1880-ca.1941) printed on the verso of the front fly leaf. The binding is slightly stained, the joints are very slightly weakened. The work is somewhat browned throughout. Otherwise a fine copy in a fine binding. Barbier I, p. 400; Bodel Nijenhuis 561; STCN 822884488 (3 copies); cf. De Wind, Ned. geschiedschrijvers I, p. 377 (Dutch ed.); Nijhoff, 4956 (Dutch ed.).