De Bello Belgico Decas II Famiani Stradae

A map of the Low Countries in the form of a Belgic lion, incorporated into the title page of this work about the Dutch wars of independence against Habsburg Spain between 1555 and 1590 which is replete with engraved battle scenes. In 1579 the northern provinces had established their independence as the United Provinces of the Netherlands, leaving the south under Catholic control as the Spanish Netherlands, but at the time this book was printed war with Spain was continuing, and it was only in 1648, at the end of the Thirty Years War, that Spain recognised Dutch independence. The lion features heavily in the coats of arms of both the Netherlands and Belgium. Taken form the "De Bello Belgico Decas Prima" by Famiano Strada. Copperplate with fine hand colouring, expert repairs perfectly executed, generally in good conditions.