15. (Bél Mátyás) Bel, Matthias: Notitia Hungariae...

... novae historico geographica, divisa in partes quatuor... Tom(i) I-IV.
Viennae Austriae, 1735-1742. J. P. van Ghelen. 1pl(s). (engraved, allegorical frontispiece, representing a queen figure depicting Hungary in the centre, pointing to the map of Hungary)+(26)+696p.+1pl(s). (two-part, folding copper engraving of Pozsony)+1 map(s) (folding copper engraving of Pozsony County)+2 appx(s). (folding family trees of the Pálffys and Erdődys); (20)+587p.+3pl(s). (two-part, folding copper engravings with the views of Modor and Nagyszombat on the first, Pozsonyszentgyörgy and Bazin on the second, Vöröskő and Szomolány on the third)+3 map(s) (folding copper engraved maps of 3 countys: Turóc, Liptó – with the view of Rózsahegy at the lower right corner – and Zólyom – with the view of Besztercebánya at the lower right corner)+1 appx(s). (folding family tree of the Révay family); (26)+642+(2)p.; (16)+768p.+4 map(s) (folding copperplates of Nógrád, Bars, Nyitra and Hont Counties)+6 folding appx(s). (one for each fold-out family tree of the Berényi, Balassa, Ujfalussy and Rajcsány families and two for the Forgách family)
With several engaved vignettes and initials in both parts. The engravers of Sámuel Mikoviny’s maps and views were Andreas és Joseph Schmuzer from Vienna. Frontispiece of the second part, one leaf and all plates of the third volume missing.
In his monumental work, Mátyás Bél, historian and scientist, attempted a historical-topographical description of Hungary by counties. Four volumes of the first part of the work (planned for four parts) were published in print. Jenő Zichy published the first volume of the second part 150 years later, in 1892 - the rest remained in the manuscript. The first part includes the western and central counties of Upper Hungary and the counties of Pest, Pilis and Solt; the second is the Transdanubia; the third is the Danube-Tisza Interfluve; and the fourth is the Transtisza region. The maps and views were made by Sámuel Mikoviny, the most iconic figure of Hungarian scientific cartography, the author's student and then close friend, whose two map-making studies were published in the first and third volumes of the work. His views are also very decorative. It is a rare and precious piece, even with its deficiencies.
Three (first, second and fourth) volumes in contemporary leathers with richly gilt spines (the spine of the second is worn, the fourth is slightly damaged). The third is blind-stamped, wood-boarded, 16th-century [!] leather.
Fodor: 87-94. old.; Makkai – Horváth: 239.
 
Starting price: 800,000 Ft