Baden Germany 1598 antique wood engraved hand color city plan

Obern Baden/ Statt und Bader Nachihzer Gelgenheit

(Baden, Germany)

Issued 1598, Basel, Switzerland by S. Munster

Fine original antique wood engraving. Printed on quality hand-made paper which retains its inherent structural flexibility and soundness.

With lovely detailed hand color. Great image, with much detail outside the city walls, a very definitive and recognizable plan.

In Good to Good+ or better condition, sheet moderately age toned and with some minor light "show-through" as typical, trivial small spotting, light age wear as always, but overall the map is very attractive and well worth of ownership or display [note: we grade very conservatively and always seek to disclose any noteworthy flaws]. Text & other small woodcut on verso as issued.

Any minor defects along the sheet edges and in the margins may be seen in the photos.

Original woodblock print contained on this original 1598 leaf from the German edition of Munster's " Cosmography ".

This leaf originally appeared in this monumental 17th century landmark work, which was one of the earliest attempts in Europe to systematically and accurately organize, describe and depict the entire world as it was then known. It is encyclopedic in nature and scope, and discusses the various cultures, topography and history for all parts of the world -- much of it speculative and wildly inaccurate. The images thus captures the world through the eyes of this Renaissance/ early modern Europe era.

The Cosmography woodblocks display a charming quality which is soon lost to more subtle engraving techniques on metal.

Would look wonderful if framed for display and is a fascinating relic of publishing and printing history from over 400 years ago!

Sheet measures c. 15 3/8" W x 11 7/8" H

Printed area measures c. 13 5/8" W x 10" H.

Original fold line as issued.

[61846]