MERIAN, Matthäus.
Topographia Helvetiae Rhaetiae et Valesiae. Das ist, Beschreibung und eigentliche Abbildung der vornembsten Stätte und Plätz, in der hochlöblichen Eydgnoßschafft, Grawbündten, Walliß, und etlicher zugewanten Orten.
[Frankfurt am Main], Matthäus Merian, 1642. Folio. With richly engraved title-page, 74 (of 76) engraved maps, plans and views on 54 (of 56) plates normally included the 1642 first edition (nearly all double-page) plus 1 large folding plate from the 1653 Anhang, and 67 additional engravings from the 17th and 18th century, including at least 16 by or after Merian. Altogether there are 3 general maps (1 of Germany and surroundings and 2 of Switzerland), 4 detail maps, and numerous city plans and views. Lacking the bird's eye view of Herisau and the second of two views of Neuchâtel. Tanned sheepskin (ca. 1700?), gold-tooled spine. 72, [8] pp. plus engraved plates.
€ 29,500
First edition of the famous topography of Switzerland, richly illustrated by Matthäus Merian (1593-1650). The main interest of the work is in the engravings, which are of the highest artistic standard. Nearly all the plates are double-page, with an occasional larger folding or single-page plate. They provide finely executed plans and views of the towns and regions mentioned in the text. The text is by Martin Zeiler (1589-1661). This is the first of Merian's topographical works to deal with his native country, Switzerland.
The folding plate from the 1653 Anhang shows the view of Vierwaldstättersee, number 36+ in Wüthrich's list. The 67 extra engravings from various sources, all related to Switzerland, were collected by Alb. Müller, who acquired the book in 1819. At least 16 of these 67 are also by or after Merian. They have been mounted on laid paper and inserted in the appropriate places.
Wüthrich notes that his illustration 62+ is not usually present in Merian's 1642 first edition, and it is not present here. He notes his illustrations 64+ and 88+ as a normal part of this edition, but they are lacking here. The present copy contains all other plates called for by Wüthrich plus the folding view from the 1653 Anhang and the 67 additional engravings listed above. With an occasional minor tear, stain or slight browning, but generally in good condition. The binding is scuffed but structurally sound. Eckardt, pp. 48-52; Schuchhard 62; Wüthrich IV, 1; cf. Introduction to the facsimile of the 1654 ed. (Kassel, 1960).
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