Imaginary view of Paris and on verso Munich : however the earliest obtainable views of this period.In the forground a large vessel, who was the symbol of the powerful corporate body of the Marchands de l'eau, and is dating back to the Middle Ages. The city motto, "Fluctuat nec mergitur" ("It is beaten by the waves without being submerged") is equally a reference to this vessel. The first mention of coat of arms of Paris with the vessel appears as early as 1190 when Philippe Augustus gave the des...

RECTO: A panoramic view of the city of Groningen dated 1573.VERSO: a woodcut of a cow, a bull and their calf.Taken from Sebastian Munster's encyclopedic work, the "Cosmographia Universalis". The Cosmographia by Sebastian Münster had numerous editions in different languages including Latin, French (translated by François de Belleforest), Italian, English, and even Czech. The last German edition was published in 1628, long after his death. The Cosmographia was one of the most successful and popu...

Panoramic view of Montpellier by Sebastian Münster. Below the engraving a letterpress key. From the German edition of Sebastian Munster's Cosmography, "Cosmographey oder beschreibung aller Länder".

Text page with woodblock map of ancient France (122 x 163 mm.) In 1575 Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia was translated into French and published in Paris by François de Belle-Forest.

Fine wood cut bird's-eye view of Marseille. Decorated with several ship in the harbour and on the sea. To the left two keys describing the main buildings and places. Published in "La Cosmographie Universelle de tout le monde", printed in 1575 in Paris by Nicolas Chesneau and Michel Sonnius with the French text by Francois de Belleforest.The book is a French version of Sebastian Münster's "Cosmographia Universalis".

This general chart of north-western Europe and the surrounding coastal waters is from the rare pilot-guide De Spiegel der Zeevaerdt , printed by Christopher Plantin in Leyden.FIRST PLATE AND FIRST STATE, which appeared in the first 3 editions, before Latin names of some seas and inscriptions in the scale bars were added. (editions 4-12). EXTREMELY RARE.The map's title is given in both Latin and Dutch, with the latter attributing it to Waghenaer and nothing a privilege of ten years. The date 1583...

A detailed chart of the English Channel coastland. Decorated by a colorful title cartouche and scale cartouche, one compass rose, several vessels and sea monsters. A very early edition rare Dutch text edition of this landmark contribution to the science of navigation. Waghenaer's own personal experiences as a pilot along European coasts were used to compile the Spiegel der Zeevaerdt, the first edition of which was published in Dutch at Leyden in 1584/85 by the House of Plantin. Although advertis...

DUTCH TEXT EDITION. A detailed chart of the coast of Flanders and Normandy decorated by a large colorful baroque title cartouche, and the coat of arms of Flanders with a colorful scale cartouche decorated with a compass, a compass rose, several vessels and sea monsters. From an early Dutch text edition of this landmark contribution to the science of navigation. Waghenaer's own personal experiences as a pilot along European coasts were used to compile the Spiegel der Zeevaerdt, the first edition ...

A rare Dutch text edition of this detailed early chart of the northern coast of England. West to the top. The mileage cartouche has no Latin captures. Decorated by a colorful title cartouche and scale cartouche, one compass rose, and several vessels. An early Dutch text edition of this landmark contribution to the science of navigation. Waghenaer's own experiences as a pilot along European coasts were used to compile the Spiegel der Zeevaerdt, the first edition of which was published in Dutch at...

Eye-bird view of Valenciennes.

Title page of the book Habiti delle Donne Venetiane" (Dress of Venetian Women) which consists of twenty numbered plates of ornately dressed women. This very decorative title page shows in to Rialto Bridge and in the center a bird's-eye plan of Venice.Giacomo Franco (1556-1620) was born and grew in Venice, where he used to work. He was the son of painter Giovanni-Battista Franco (1510-1561), with whom he began his artistic training at the age of eleven. He worked as a painter, engraver, woodcutte...

Very rare view of Venice published in the first edition of "Viaggio da Venetia, a Costantinopoli. Per Mare, e per Terra, & infieme quello di Terra Santa. Da Gioseppe Rosaccio con brevita descritto".Several of the maps and plans resemble those in G. F. Camocio's "Isole famose", in particular the maps of the individual Greek islands, among which are Corfu, Crete, Cyprus, together with a map of Palestine and a view of Jerusalem.It is possible that many of the plates may originate from 1590-1597, wh...

This map shows Holland in great detail, including small towns, walled cities, rivers and lakes (many of which were reclaimed in the 17th century, and no longer exist). A coat of arms is in the upper left corner of the map image. In the ocean, there are many sailing ships and smaller fishing boats. An intricate compass rose is in the upper middle area. A very decorative map of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen and Drente and of the German Province of Friesland.

East to the top. Fine map of Geldria and Limburg, prepared by Christian s'Grooten. Very fine title cartouche lower right with painter's utensils around the cartouche.Dare to go in Black. All early maps were printed in black and white, and many were kept that way for a long time. A black and white map in an early and strong impression is a rarity nowadays, being so many examples recently colored up!

This map shows Holland in great detail, including small towns, walled cities, rivers and lakes (many of which were reclaimed in the 17th century, and no longer exist). A coat of arms is in the upper left corner of the map image. In the ocean, there are many sailing ships and smaller fishing boats. An intricate compass rose is in the upper middle area. A very decorative map of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen and Drente and of the German Province of Friesland.Dare to go in Black. All ...

In an inset Mechelen and surroundings. Decorative scale and title cartouche with dedicational initials, which may refer to Laurentius Michaelis, who may be connected with the Mechelen inset map.Dare to go in Black. All early maps were printed in black and white, and many were kept that way for a long time. A black and white map in an early and strong impression is a rarity nowadays, being so many examples recently colored up!

Very rare map of the Benelux, centered on the Netherlands. According to van der Heijden only known in 6 examples. Two compass-roses with rumb lines but without the names of the wind directions. Very decorative title cartouche with legend, and underneath a large escutcheon with the coats-of-arms of all the XVII Provinces.The maps shows a striking resemblance, also in details, the one by Jodocus Hondius of 1593 and to the map in four sheets of 1602. For the greater part the text in the title carto...