First edition of this important genealogical work by Franciscan friar and genealogist Jéronimo de Sosa, dealing with the history of the Villafrancas del Bierzo, a Spanish noble family dating back to the late 15th century. With present groundbreaking book, and particularly with the 17 full-paged genealogical trees depicted in it, Sosa decisively adapted the „Ahnentafel“ method of genealogical numbering originally invented by Michael Eytzinger in 1590 and popularised by Kekulé around 1900. The book is dedicated to Fadrique de Toledo (1580-1634), a prominent member of the Villafrancas and commander in chief of the Spanish Army in the Kingdom of Naples, which was under Spanish rule then. As a poshumous reference Fadrique's engraved portrait is bound in. - Provenance from the library of the counts of Harrach with their oval collection stamp "Ex bibliotheca Viennensi" on title page. The Harrach's are an Austrian and Czech noble family and were among the most prominent in the Habsburg Empire. - Boards of binding with remaining wholes missing clasps, formerly broken joints with old restoration, edges and cornes bumped, boards and spine in parts slightly scratched, end papiers and inside alongside the margins foxy. Missing pagination after p. 46 and before p. 65, as printed according to Palau. Otherwise a solid copy of this rare item, probably unique in this splendid, however unsigned rococo binding. - Palau 319851; Brunet, Suppl. II, 1672; Graesse VI, 451; Jerez, p. 99; Penney, Hisp. Soc. of America, p. 525; Toda y Güell 4737.
