Catalog Archive
Auction 201, Lot 495

Full Contemporary Color

"Rhenus Fluviorum Europae Celeberrimus, cum Mosa, Mosella, et Reliquis, in Illum se Exonerantibus, Fluminibus", Blaeu, Willem

Subject: Central Europe, Rhine River

Period: 1640 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
37.9 x 16.3 inches
96.3 x 41.4 cm
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This splendid map depicts the Rhine River valley from its headwaters in southern Switzerland to where it empties into the North Sea in the Netherlands. The map is fully engraved with the tributaries of the Rhine, hundreds of towns, political boundaries, and even graphic depictions of mountains and forests. Oriented with north to the right, the map is embellished with a large allegorical cartouche featuring Bacchus, river gods, and woodland animals. A decorative cartouche at top right dedicates the map to Andreae Bickero. The distance scale includes a row of putti holding the coats of arms of the regions represented in the map. Blank verso. On two sheets, joined.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #1120:2B.

Condition: B+

Dark impressions with full contemporary color, issued folding on bright sheets with a large watermark of the god Atlas. There is a bit of printer's ink residue, some errant red ink on Bacchus, and a few minor spots. There are archival repairs to several short fold separations, including an old paper repair in the bottom margin on recto, and some reinforcement of the sides of the sheet on verso.

Estimate: $400 - $475

Sold for: $300

Closed on 11/20/2024

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