Haarlem, Johannes Enschedé [for the Raadt van Staate der Vereenigde Nederlanden], [1578] 1778. Folio (32.5 x 22.0 cm) [33.0 x 22.6 cm]. [vi], [66], [i] pp. Contemporary, probably original mottled burgundy morocco. Spine with six raised, gilt-rolled bands; compartments with gilt floral corner pices and central vignette. Boards with intricate gilt floral borders, gilt dentelles and gilt vignette of the Dutch lion. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.

A luxurious facsimile of the 1578 Union of Utrecht treaty, in which the seven Dutch provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Friesland, Groningen, Utrecht, Gelderland and Overijssel segregated from the Spanish branch of the Habsburg Empire, and which formed the foundation of the Netherlands as a sovereign state. This most important Dutch document was reprinted on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Dutch Republic in 1778, using the old fonts of the Dutch state printing company Aelbert Hendricxz in Delft, which had come into the possession of the famous Dutch printing company Johan Enschedé. This is a very early example of such a facsimile reproduction, with 66 pages, containing original texts and autographs (and a few leaves blank). A letter, dated 19/9/1886 (i.e., just over another 100 years later), tipped in on the second blank recto. Slight wear to board edges; otherwise a very good, clean copy. The binding is quite beautiful.