Gallery of prints for sale

Saturday, 7 December 2024

Matthäus Merian I (designer), “Frontispiece to ‘Topographia Galliae’, Vol. 1”, 1655

Designed by Matthäus Merian I (aka, Matthaeus Merian) (1593–1650) (as inscribed in the plate [“Inventor”]) and possibly executed (based on the date of publication) by his sons, Mathaeus Merian II (aka Matthaeus Merian) (1621–1687) and Caspar Merian (1627–1686)

“Frontispiece to ‘Topographia Galliae’, Vol. 1” (folio edition of four volumes in thirteen parts), 1655 (as dated in plate [MDCLV]), published in Frankfurt [Francofverti] by Caspar Merian with royal privilege.

Etching with engraving on fine laid paper, trimmed with a small margin around the platemark, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 30.9 x 19cm; (plate [soft impression]) 29.5 x 18.3 cm; (image borderline) 28.3 x 17.6cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper left banderole) “Clodovaus i. R. Franc:”; (upper right banderole) “Ludovicus xiv T. Franc:”; (centre) “M. Z./ TOPOGRAPHEA/GALLIÆ./ FRANCOFVRTI,/ apud. M.D C. LV. / Cum Privilegio/ S. Cæsar. M.; (lower edge at right) “Matheus Merian. Inventor.”

Lifetime impression of 1655 before the plate was altered in 1660 to show the Amsterdam publication details for Caspar Merian and the widow of Joost Broersz (fl.c.1634–1647) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1872-0511-1093 [BM inv. no. 1872,0511.1093]).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression (near faultless), trimmed with a small margin and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The lower left corner of the margin has been replenished and there is minor age-toning, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition with no significant stains.

I am selling this wonderfully strong and largish frontispiece to the first of four volumes that is arguably “the most comprehensive guide to France of the 17th-century” (see https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Topographia-Galliae-MERIAN-Matthaeus-1593-1650-Martin/8523969161/bd) for AU$277 in total (currently US$177.04/ EUR167.55/ GBP1138.91 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$277) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this visually arresting etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold











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