This uncommon miniature view shows the Moroccan fortress of Larache (El Araich). Built near the site of the Phoenician colony of Lixus, the city is perched on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The dramatic scene includes a sea battle and a mythical hippocampus being struck by lightning along with the Latin motto, Deus Punit Impudentes (God punishes the shameless).

Meisner's emblem book, containing over 800 pictorial-poetic compositions, was enormously popular throughout Europe in the 17th century. The plan views were based on the work of De Bry, Braun & Hogenberg, Merian and others with the addition of emblematic figures or scenes in the foreground, juxtaposed with moralizing and edifying verses beneath the image and a Latin motto at top. It was originally issued with 52 plates as the Thesaurus philo-politicus in 1623-24. After Meisner's death in 1625, Eberhard Kieser, with assistance from Johann L. Gottfried, completed the work and published it until 1631. The plates then appeared in the eight parts of Sciographia Cosmica published by Paulus Furst between 1637-78. The plates for these editions were renumbered alphanumerically in the upper right corners - A-H (identifying the 8 parts) and 1-100 (plate number). They were finally issued in 1700 and 1704 in Rudolf J. Helmer's Politica-politica.

References:

Condition: A+

Overall fine with a couple of insignificant spots in the margin.