De Westmalse Acta Sanctorum

The 400th anniversary of Heribert Rosweyde's trendsetting Fasti sanctorum has put the Acta sanctorum, the hagiographical masterwork accomplished by generations of Bollandists, in the spotlight. The rich library of the Westmalle Trappists (Belgium) has a complete series of the Acta sanctorum, with extraordinary provenances: the Pope Adrian VI College of Louvain University, the Jesuit College in Bruges, the Brussels friars recollets, G.J. De Boey, the generous benefactor of St. Louis University and donator to Marquette College, Milwaukee. Moreover, the precious series was subject of a long dispute between the Trappist Abbeys of Scourmont and Westmalle. Twenty illustrations show some dedications, bookbindings, and even a bookbinder's error... A thorough application of D. Pearson's Provenance Research in Book History. The biobibliography of Father Seraphinus Lenssen O.S.C.O (1891-1960), rightfully called the "bollandist of the Trappists", is given in annex.