Pale brown calf over wooden board, of the second half of the 18th century, the centre of each cover with a pattern of triangular and rectangular panels edged in gilt, within alternating calf and mottled calf panels also edged in gilt, the whole framed with a blind-tooled foliate roll. With metal openwork fittings in the form of a monogram, including the letters A, B, D, surmounted by a coronet, presumably the initials of a member of the Arenberg family, who owned the volume in the 18th century. Dimensions: 55 x 39 cm. Made for Charles de Croy (1560-1612) from 1596 to 1598, and inscribed by him on a piece of paper stuck to the upper pastedown: 'Ce liure est a moy Charles Syre premier Duc de Croy et 4e d'Arschot lequel at este leu et releu, visite et revisite du tout entierement et depuis de commencement iusques a la fin par moy en nostre ville et chasteau de Beaumont le 13 de Janvier 1607 [signed:] Charles Syre et Duc de Croy et d'Arschot'.
Provenance: this album sold by Sotheby's in 2001
