Luyck [Liège], Gerardt Chockier, 1685. Small 4to (18.1 x 13.6 cm). Title page, 37 pp. Marbled spine cover.

Extremely rare first edition of a work discussing the economical and social problems in the Spanish Netherlands, an isolated and impoverished region sandwiched between France and the Dutch Republic. The title continues with "Ende inde selve te doen erleven den af-ghestorven Koophandel, Schip-vaert, Landt-Bouw, 't maecken van Manufacturen, ende alder-hande Soorten van Handt-Werrcken. Tot een al-ghemeyn welvaeren vande Inghesetenen vande selve Landen. Verhandelt in een t'Saemen-spraeck' tusschen een Edelman van Brabandt, ende een Koopman van Vlaenderen. Seer curieus, vermaeckelick en profijtigh om lesen." [Full title in English: The origin of the ruin and poverty of the Spanish Netherlands; as well as indications of the means to restore these countries and to revive the dead trade, shipping, agriculture, manufacturing, and all kinds of handicrafts. To the general prosperity of the inhabitants of the same countries. Dealt with in a conversation between a nobleman of Brabant, and a merchant of Flanders. Very curious, entertaining, and profitable to read]. Published anonymously, but known to be written by Pieter Cardon, a merchant from Ghent, in East Flanders, although some sources name François Van Teylingen as the author. The solution he offered was mercantilism, but he met considerable opposition from the Spanish authorities (see d'Hoker). A second, altered, and reset edition, in octavo (thus with more numbered pages) was published in 1686. A few, small ink smudges on pp. 4-5, otherwise a very good, clean copy. No auction records for this first edition. A single copy is present in the collection of the Royal Library of Belgium, in Brussels, and one in the University Library in Ghent. The Royal Library of the Netherlands seems to have a copy. D'Hoker, M. (1970). De economische conferenties te Brussel in 1699. Bijdrage tot de geschiedenis van de economische politiek in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden. BMGN 85(2), pp. 167-214.