A very fine map from the first edition of “Geographia di Claudio Tolomeo” by Girolamo Ruscelli published in Venice in 1561 at Valgrisi. There is a really interesting Italian text on verso that describes the early history and geography of the area. A feature of this first state is that some maps haven’t the platemark at top because two maps were engraved on the same plate and the resulting sheet halved. Ruscelli’s Atlas is an expanded edition of Gastaldi’s Atlas of 1548, which has been called the most comprehensive atlas produced between Martin Waldseemller’s Geographiae of 1513, and the Abraham Ortelius Theatrum of 1570. Gastaldi’s maps were beautifully engraved on copper, marking a turning point in the history of cartography. From then on the majority of cartographic works used this medium. As it was a harder material than wood it gave the engraver the ability to render more detail. Gastaldi sought the most up-to-date geographical information available, and [he] became one of the greatest cartographers of the sixteenth century.
The very rare card showing Genoa as king Jack of the Kingdom of “Genoa and Corse”. It provides some essential geographical information on the city.
Published by Nicholas De Poilly in Paris in 1763. A collector’s items.
From a pack of playing cards where the value of each card is indicated by the number of towns on it, and each suit by the colour. The court cards, bearing heads of kings, queens and knaves, have statistical details inside a panel of hanging drapery. Cfr. British Museum 1906,0723.36.1-51
A detailed and decorative view of Lerici and its Bay from Merian’s “Topographia Italiae” pubblished in Franckfurt in 1640. Mattheus Merian was a notable Swiss engraver, born in Basle in 1593, who subsequently studied in Zurich and then moved to Frankfurt where he met Theodore de Bry, whose daughter he married in 1617.
A nice old color example of Blaeu’s regional map of Italy. From “Grooten Atlas” dutch edition of the Atlas Major published in Amsterdam in 1635. The famous Blaeu’s firm was founded in 1596 by Willem Janzoon Blaeu (1571-1638) then continued by his two sons Cornelius (1616-1648) and Johannis (1596-1673). Their greatest cartographic achievement was the publication of the magnificent Atlas Major with 600 maps all finely engraved and embellished by elaborate cartouches, heraldic detail and especially
Striking bird’s-eye plan of Rome with decorative title cartouche, showing the city as it was c. 1550. Included are various surviving features of ancient Rome: the surrounding walls, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Arch of Constantine, and the Forum Romanum.
Separately issue version of Federico De Agostini stunning map of Italy, first published in 1946 by Italgeo here in the Arti Grafiche Ricordi edition published in Milan, 1978. The illustrator of the pictorial map is Vsevolod Petrovic Nicouline: it shows vignettes of structures, nature, activities, products, crops and many towns and cities labeled. Embellished by elegant calligraphy, compass rose and a Neptune in the sea.
Vsevolod Petrovic Nicouline (1890-1962) was a renowned Russian painter, printmaker, ceramicist, designer and illustrator born in the Ukraine in 1890. For a time he was with the Imperial Academy of Petersburg. His teaching career there was interrupted by the Bolshevik revolution. He was forced to flee and, after a daring journey, arrived in Constantinople accompanied by the Countess Bossalinie Aida who later became his wife. They survived in this city with menial jobs, and were finally able to join relatives in Genoa in 1920 where he held his first exhibition. In 1922 he moved to Nervi, opening a studio at the first Polish residence, meeting other Russian and Polish exiles. His years were rich in relationships, artists, and writers for whom he designed several books and arranged illustrations, commissions of portraits and more. In 1941 he was inaugurated into the Teatro Carlo Felice and designed sets for La Scala and the Metropolitan New York. He was an important illustrator of more than 100 children’s books.
Bella veduta prospettica della città di Rovigo incisa all’acquaforte da Francesco Cepparuli tratta dalla non comune opera “Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Paesi e Popoli del Mondo … parte dell’Italia dedicata a Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi…” pubblicata a Napoli presso Vincenzo Mazzola nel 1754: si tratta della celebre versione non autorizzata dell’opera di Tommaso Salmon (Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Popoli …) edita a Venezia tre anni prima (1751) presso l’editore Albrizzi. Questa edizione di Napoli è interamente illustrata con i rami incisi da Francesco Cepparuli ed è conosciuta come uno dei primi esempi di plagio editoriali.Il Cepparuli, poco noto artista napoletano specializzato in incisioni ornamentali, fregi, bordure, frontespizi e pavesi, pur copiando i rami dell’opera del Salmon pavesa numerose differenze nell’inciso e un tratto più veloce. Interessante variante ben conosciuta e ricercata dai collezionisti.
Bella veduta prospettica della città di Padova incisa all’acquaforte da Francesco Cepparuli tratta dalla non comune opera “Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Paesi e Popoli del Mondo … parte dell’Italia dedicata a Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi…” pubblicata a Napoli presso Vincenzo Mazzola nel 1754: si tratta della celebre versione non autorizzata dell’opera di Tommaso Salmon (Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Popoli …) edita a Venezia tre anni prima (1751) presso l’editore Albrizzi. Questa edizione di Napoli è interamente illustrata con i rami incisi da Francesco Cepparuli ed è conosciuta come uno dei primi esempi di plagio editoriali. La pianta è accompagnata da un secondo foglio con i sei scorci più rappresentativi della città: “Chiesa di Sant’Antonio in Padova – Chiesa di S. Giustina – Sepolcro di Antenore – Prospetto dello Studio di Padova detto Bò – Piazza de’ Signori – Palazzo pubblico di Padova.”
Il Cepparuli, poco noto artista napoletano specializzato in incisioni ornamentali, fregi, bordure, frontespizi e pavesi, pur copiando i rami dell’opera del Salmon pavesa numerose differenze nell’inciso e un tratto più veloce. Interessante variante ben conosciuta e ricercata dai collezionisti.
Bella veduta panoramica della città di Mantova incisa all’acquaforte da Francesco Cepparuli tratta dalla non comune opera “Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Paesi e Popoli del Mondo … parte dell’Italia dedicata a Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi…” pubblicata a Napoli presso Vincenzo Mazzola nel 1754: si tratta della celebre versione non autorizzata dell’opera di Tommaso Salmon (Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Popoli …) edita a Venezia tre anni prima (1751) presso l’editore Albrizzi. Questa edizione di Napoli è interamente illustrata con i rami incisi da Francesco Cepparuli ed è conosciuta come uno dei primi esempi di plagio editoriali.
Il Cepparuli, poco noto artista napoletano specializzato in incisioni ornamentali, fregi, bordure, frontespizi e pavesi, pur copiando i rami dell’opera del Salmon pavesa numerose differenze nell’inciso e un tratto più veloce. Interessante variante ben conosciuta e ricercata dai collezionisti.
Bella veduta panoramica della città di Pavia incisa all’acquaforte da Francesco Cepparuli tratta dalla non comune opera “Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Paesi e Popoli del Mondo … parte dell’Italia dedicata a Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi…” pubblicata a Napoli presso Vincenzo Mazzola nel 1754: si tratta della celebre versione non autorizzata dell’opera di Tommaso Salmon (Lo Stato Presente di Tutti i Popoli …) edita a Venezia tre anni prima (1751) presso l’editore Albrizzi. Questa edizione di Napoli è interamente illustrata con i rami incisi da Francesco Cepparuli ed è conosciuta come uno dei primi esempi di plagio editoriali.
Il Cepparuli, poco noto artista napoletano specializzato in incisioni ornamentali, fregi, bordure, frontespizi e pavesi, pur copiando i rami dell’opera del Salmon pavesa numerose differenze nell’inciso e un tratto più veloce. Interessante variante ben conosciuta e ricercata dai collezionisti.
Very fine prospect plan of Siena from the Merian’s Topographia Italiae published in Frankfurt in 1640. Mattheus Merian was a notable Swiss engraver, born in Basle in 1593, who subsequently studied in Zurich and then moved to Frankfurt where he met Theodore de Bry, whose daughter he married in 1617. They had numerous children together, including a daughter, Anna Maria Sibylla Merian, born in 1647. She became a pioneering naturalist and illustrator. Two of their sons followed Merian into publishing. In Frankfurt Mattheus Merian spent most of his working life and with Martin Zeiller (1589-1661), a German Geographer, and later with his own son, he produced a series of Topographia consisting of 21 volumes including a very large number of town plans as well as maps of most countries. He also took over and completed the later parts and editions of the Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages originally started by De Bry in 1590.
Uncommon and elegant map of Corse inset Malta, finely engraved by Pietro Allodi after a drawn by Filippo Naymiller. From Atlante di geografia universale: cronologico, storico, statistico e letterario. Milan, 1860 at Tipografia Pagnoni.
Scarce pictorial map of Latvia, published by the Ministry of Public Works division of Tourism illustrating the tourist attractions, natural wonders, roads, major buildings, historical details and points of interest of the country on Baltic Sea. The map is one of the liveliest and most interesting maps of Latvia published in this pictographic style, with vivid colors and fantastic images.
A rare very detailed cartoon map of Frankfurt am Main published in Darmstadt in 1954 by Stars UY Stripes. All the historic sites, streets and famous buildings are labeled and many of them are illustrated by lovely vignettes or caricatures (see Beethoven, Goethe, Stolze, Adickes and others). The funny map drawn by Byrel W. Burgess shows also all the Frankfurt greater area with a particular attention to the American presence (schools, hospitals, posts etc.). Chicago it’s curiously drawn in top right corner.
Very decorative lithographic poster map designed by Kempster and Evans issued by Chromoworks in London in 1956. The map shows historical figures in costume and is bordered by the coat of arms or shields of various counties.