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...

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".

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".

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.

Eye-bird view of Valenciennes.

Prepared by Jacob Surhon who made a manuscript map of Artois for which he received 36 Livres from Charles V in 1554. For security reasons the map was not published. Only in 1579, when Antwerp was independent for a short time, Ortelius used the map for publication in his atlas.This is the last and very rare state with the signature of Theodorus Galle.

Separately issued map of Burgundy area. Two maps of Burgundy region on a plate. Separately published map, without text on the verso. Second state with the date 1597 removed from the title cartouche. This is the rarest Burgundy map of the four that Ortelius made.

Map of Burgundy region without text on the verso. Second state with the date 1597 removed from the title cartouche. This is the rarest Burgundy map of the four that Ortelius made.

A finely engraved map of the Province prepared by Pierre-Jean de Bompar who published a single sheet map of the Province in 1591. Title cartouche in the upper left-hand corner. Engraved by Baptista Doetichum.

The map of Ile de France which Jean Leclerc added in his re-issue of Maurice Bouguereau's atlas 'Theatre Francois' , as ' La Theatre geographique de France' in 1619. An uncommon and decorative map.[Lot of 17]  maps of F R A N C E- L'Isle de France, Parisiensis agri descrip(tio). - Gouvernemens de Picardie, de Boulonnois, et d’Artois (1768)- V.  Descrittione del Regno della Gallia (1598)-La France Divisée en ses quarante Gouvernamens Généraux et Militaire.- - Topographia aug. Turon. duca...

Small map of Lorraine, oriented with West on top and surrounded by text in Dutch. Nicolaes de Clerck (de Klerc) was active as an engraver and publisher in Delft from 1599-1621.Included in the rare book : Wereld Spiegel, waer in vertoontword de Beschryvinge der Rijken Staten, ende vorstendommen des gantsen Aerdbodems… which was a Dutch translation of "Les estats, empires et principautez de monde" by Pierre Davity.The map is engraved by Jodocus Hondius before 1616 and first published in Petrus ...

Small map of France, surrounded by text in Dutch.  Nicolaes de Clerck (de Klerc) was active as engraver and publisher in Delft from 1599-1621.Included in the rare book : Wereld Spiegel, waer in vertoontword de Beschryvinge der Rijken Staten, ende vorstendommen des gantsen Aerdbodems… which was a Dutch translation of "Les estats, empires et principautez de monde" by Pierre Davity.The map is engraved by Jodocus Hondius before 1616 and first published in Petrus Bertius' revised pocket atlas Tab...

Early map centered north of Paris. With Latin text on verso. Engraved by Petrus Kaerius. Shortly after the publication of big folio-atlases the need was apparently felt for a smaller sized atlas, one that would be handier and, above all, cheaper. Joh. Cloppenburgh published in 1630 a atlas based on Mercator's pocket map, but in a slightly larger size. He published a Latin text edition in 1632.

Early map of Eastern France and part of Switzerland. Geneva in upper right corner. With Latin text on verso. Engraved by Petrus Kaerius. Shortly after the publication of big folio-atlases the need was apparently felt for a smaller sized atlas, one that would be handier and, above all, cheaper. Joh. Cloppenburgh published in 1630 a atlas based on Mercator's pocket map, but in a slightly larger size. He published a Latin text edition in 1632.

In 1615, during one of John Smith’s voyages across the Atlantic, he was caught by some French pirates. While at sea in captivity he was forced to suffer great hardships but, one night during a storm in the Bay of Biscay when the crew were forced below deck, he managed to escape in a rowing boat. All night he was tossed about by the waves with only a pike to help him steer. The small boat was eventually driven ashore on the island of Charante where some bird-catchers found him almost dead from ...

Very rare map including Bayonne and Dax in the south west of France. With inset plan of "Plan de la ville Dax.". Engraved by Henri le Roy. With the address "Chez F. DLa Pointe sur le quay de l'horloge".

Map of Ré and Oléron islands. Depicting the west coast of France, showing La Rochelle. Several vessels and sailing ships dot the Atlantic ocean.Three windroses indicate north to the left. Embellished with sea goddess and monsters.  From early on Willem Jansz. Blaeu aimed of publishing an atlas to compete with the Hondius-Jansson Atlas. By 1630, he had published at least 17 folio size maps. Blaeu was able to realize his plan soon after he had acquired the copper plates of the atlas maps by Jod...

Map of Bretagne in France. From early on Willem Jansz. Blaeu aimed of publishing an atlas to compete with the Hondius-Jansson Atlas. By 1630, he had published at least 17 folio size maps. Blaeu was able to realize his plan soon after he had acquired the copper plates of the atlas maps by Jodocus Hondius. The "Appendix followed in 1630.In 1635 he finally realized a "international edition" of a world atlas, the "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum".

View of Vienne, engraved by François de La Pointe.