"Leodiensis Dioecesis", Blaeu, (Family)

This elegantly engraved map covers the Meuse River valley, spanning from the southern tip of Gelderland south to Douzy in northern France. Several towns and cities are named, including Maastricht, Liege, Namur, and Dinant, and the Ardennes Forest is depicted as a vast cluster of trees in the top left corner. There is an ornate distance scale cartouche at top, and an elaborate title cartouche at bottom left with two putti and a coat of arms. A compass rose orients north to the right. French text on verso, published between 1643-50.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #3360:2

Condition: A

A nice impression with full contemporary color on a sheet with a jester watermark, a hint of printer's ink residue, and a minor extraneous crease at bottom right. There are some small chips and tears confined to the sheet's edges, with light show-through of a few tape stains, well away from map image.