Charming pair of maps of northern Italy from the 16th and 17th centuries.

1) Estat de la Republique de Venise by Alain Manneson Mallet, circa 1684. A lovely miniature map of the Republic of Venice, extending to Milan and showing the border with Switzerland. The map is titled within a drape-style cartouche. German title in top margin: Die Herrschafft Venedig. (4.4 x 5.9) hand colored. Condition A, dark impression on a sheet with some minor marginal spots, not affecting the map.

2) De Italia by Sebastian Munster, circa 1581, is an unusual map of northern Italy oriented with north at the bottom. Sardinia, Naples and Corsica are shown at the top of the map and Venice, Turin and the Alps are at the bottom. A sea monster and a ship ply the waters. The sheet has a small general map of Italy on the verso, and an attached page of Latin text that shows a couple of people hanging from a tree. Condition B+ with a few spots of red watercolor on some roads and a castle, otherwise black and white with minor marginal soil (6.7 x 9.0").

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Condition:

See description.