Thick crown quarto. Pp. xxii, 9-560, (3). Plus 32 plates with numerous illustrations of medals, all printed in fine photogravure. Description of each plate appears on the facing page, the verso of the previous plate. Hardcover, rebound in blue full cloth with part of the original cloth, lettered in silver, laid-down on cover. Black morocco lettering-piece in gilt to title. In fine condition. Excellent copy. ~ First edition. [Provenance:] From the library of C. P. Mulder, renowned collector and international heraldry authority, with his charming armorial bookplate,"Nil Desperandum", to first free endpaper. For a complete catalogue of Mulder's library, from which we offer a considerable number of items, see: C. P. Mulder: "Catalogue of Works on Orders, Decorations and Medals in the Library of C. P. Mulder" (Rotterdam, 1988). See also: C. P. Mulder & A. A. Purves: "Bibliography of Orders and Decorations" (Copenhagen, 1999). The present copy, Mulder's own working copy, bears witness to the dedication and scholarly of this authority. It includes many corrections and additions drawn from various sources, including publisher's corrections and ammendments, clipped and tipped-in at the appropriate places in the book. Mulder's notes and corrections in pencil, occasionally in pen, appear in places as well as extensively on slips of paper, loosely inserted. Related clips from various sources are also loosely inserted. But the great contribution of Mulder to this work, indeed his improvement of the work, is to be found in the Plates section. On interleaves which are bound-in he mounted additional images of medals which were not originally included in the book, each carefully identified. There are close to 100 such additional illustrations from various sources, depicting medals Obverse and Reverse. [NOTE:] It should be strictly noted that this material, the result of a lifelong research, study, and collection is provided herewith strictly as-is, subject to what is physically present in the book. [ALSO INCLUDED:] Original publisher's promotional leaf, announcing the publication of this book with additional information. [FURTHER INCLUDED:] Original receipt invoice from the publisher on original stationery with logo, confirming the purchase of this book on October 15th, 1940, for the sum of RM 21.68 after 25% discount. Typed with additional text in manuscript, stamped and signed. The purchaser was Henri Quinot, Belgium, whose ownership ticket with full address and telephone number is pasted at the corner of first free endpaper. Henri Quinot, who passed away in 1967, was the author of the definitive work on Belgian decorations "Recueil illustre des Ordres de Chevalerie et decorations Belges 1830 à 1963". He was a fine collector and an authority on the subject. Another ownership signature is also to be found on this page and inside cover there's a third, unidentified bookplate. Extremely rare scholar's copy with exquisite provenance.
