[Binding. King William I] 2 full gilt and blindstamped green chagrin bindings,

probably Belgium, first half 19th century, all covers with central oval blindstamped ornament, corner fleurons and single fillet line borders around sides and along edges, triple gilt fillet line on turn-ins, gilt and ribbed spine with the crowned "W" of king William I (1772-1843) in central compartment, a.e.g., sm. 8vo.

Both vols. upper hinges splitting; vol. 1 spine rubbed; vol. 2 back cover partly discol. Both covers with stamps "Bibliotheek van H.M. de Koningin" [Wilhelmina] and "afgevoerd" on inside front cover. In 1829 (the publication year of our second volume), the Dutch king William I made a trip through the southern part of the Netherlands (now Belgium). The Koninklijke Verzamelingen preserve a rich binding that was presented to the king during a visit to a bookbinder in Doornik. Presumably, our bindings were also given to the king during the trip; unfortunately, they are not signed by the binder. On: Simon Stijl. Origine et prospérité des Pays Bas. Traduit du Hollandois de Simon Stijl, par A.G. Chotin. Brussels, Brest van Kempen, 1828-1829, 2 vols., (4),X,232; 220 p., with lithogr. portrait of William of Orange. Both vols. occas. browned/ foxed, and waterstained in lower inner corner. (total 2)