BELGIUM - J.B. VRIENTS - RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL PANORAMIC VIEW OF ANTWERP - "ANTVERPIA". Tot Antwerpen: Ian Baptista Vrients, 1610. Panorama in 4 plates, engraved with etching and burin. Proofs on laid paper. Published by Johann Baptist Vrients (1552 - 1612). Margins. Of great rarity. Jan Baptista Vrients first published this image of the city in 1610, after having been granted the privilege to do so for ten years by Albert and Isabella, Archduke (1559 - 1621) and Archduchess of Austria. At the time he published this panorama, Vrients was an established Antwerp publisher, working frequently with Petrus Plancius and Cornelis Claez. In 1600 he acquired the plates of the Epitome of Abraham Ortelius, and subsequently the plates of his larger Theatrum, too. In 1617, after Vrients death, Johannes Jansson published a new etching of the panorama, which in turn was republished by Johannes Loots. In 1652, Visscher reissued the plates as here, but with Vrients' date and address removed from the Privilege. Only one copy of the same edition has been sold at auction in the last 30 years. Exceptionally rare, we can only find two copies of this work preserved in libraries around the world: the "Herzog Bibliotek" in Wolfenbuttel, and the private collection of Paul Mellon in Oak Spring. 47,5 x 228 cm approx. Condition A/B (A short tear on the upper edge and a small lack on the left in the subject for the 2nd leaf, rare brown spots for the 1st leaf, some traces of insolation and rare tears at the folds).