Admittedly it isn’t every day you come across a treasure-trove of art and literature, which serves as a modern day time capsule from a bygone era. But that’s exactly what occurred just a couple of days ago in Bouillon, a small town in southern Belgium.

Estate agent Henri Godts was informed of a little library by near family members of the first operator throughout an auction of the property.

The original operator of the library was by taking refuge a French intellectual who fled the French Revolution. The library had been untouched for 200 years, a completely preserved snapshot of a time long forgotten by many.

“It is extremely rare to find this kind of authentic library, it is as if I were catapulted in the 18th-century in a time-machine, the guides are all perfectly preserved and seem to have come straight out of the printing press. ” admits Godts.

Inside it contained scarce books dating back to the 19th century, along from the 18th with the unique furniture and fittings from that time.

The vast majority of the books explain different nations, diverse civilizations and far away areas and document. But maybe most curiously of all, in among these gems was an atlas by Antwerp Abraham Ortelius.

During his life, he was considered the greatest cartographer of his time. The atlas which was discovered in the library dates from 1575 – it’s widely regarded the very first modern atlas. Only a hundred copies were printed at the time, and many have been lost or broken in the proceeding years.

This exceptional Atlas is believed to be worth around 4-0, euros, 000 000-45, but regarding its cultural importance, it’s simply priceless.

When it comes to the library itself, the auction will take place the ultimate price estimated to be approximately 32,50 euros. 000 to 4 1, with on June 20th – There is already significant interest from residents and overseas customers – each hoping to own this remarkable piece of history.