Netherlands - Schoonhoven; Lodovico Guicciardini (1521 –...

A rare and fascinating aerial bird's-eye view plan of the historic town of Schoonhoven, titled "Schoonhoue", conceived by the Florentine writer and merchant Lodovico Guicciardini (1521–1589). This celebrated copper engraving is part of the foundational chorographic work Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi, published originally from 1567. The presence of plate number 42 printed in the lower right corner unequivocally identifies this specific sheet as belonging to the prestigious later and expanded editions, printed in Amsterdam from 1612 onwards, in which the renowned publishers of the time reused and numbered the original plates. The work magnificently illustrates the late-medieval urban structure of the town perched on the river Lek, prior to the massive seventeenth-century defensive transformations. The cartographic representation shows with extreme precision the course of the original city walls studded with towers, the grid of interior streets densely lined with houses, and the characteristic inner canals. On the water surface in the foreground, several merchant vessels and sailing ships of the period are carefully delineated, testifying to the riverine and economic importance of the port of Schoonhoven. The plate presents itself with an excellent, crisp inking and wide, untouched original margins. An excellent collectible specimen, of great decorative impact and perfect for lovers of early Flemish Renaissance cartography and the history of Dutch towns. Dimensions 34 x 22 cm Will be shipped by courier.

Estimate:£21.77

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