Lot 214: 

MARCO BOSCHINI (1613-1678)
Il regno tutto di Candia. Venice: [n.p.], 1651. 2° (305 x 219mm). Engraved title, engraved allegorical frontispiece, 61 numbered engraved plates, plans and maps, of which 8 double-page and one folding. (Lacking dedication, small tears and tiny holes to folding map, two leaves detached, spotting to title, occasional light soiling and browning, tiny wormhole in last 11 maps, a small burn mark to fore-edge just touching margin.) Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine (small chips to extremities and corners, a few wormholes, some staining). Provenance: Antonio Bagatta, ownership inscription.

FIRST EDITION. The Venetian painter, writer and engraver Boschini began work on this survey of Crete in 1645 and published a two-sheet map of the island. In the same year Crete was invaded by the Turks and, when Il regno tutto di Candia was published, the town of Candia (Heraklion) was in the fourth year of what was to become a twenty-two year siege. Although DBI on-line mentions an edition of 1645, this is not recorded elsewhere. Atabey 136; Brunet I, 1123; Nordenskiöld I, 31; Shirley, Bos-1a.