Lot 222: MERIAN, Matthaeus (1593-1650, illustrator) & Martin ZEILLER (1589-1661). Topographia Bavariae

MERIAN, Matthaeus (1593-1650, illustrator) & Martin ZEILLER (1589-1661). Topographia Bavariae das ist Beschreib. und aigentliche Abbildung der vornembsten Stätt und Orth, in Ober- und Nieder-Bayern der Obern Pfaltz, und andern zum hochlöblichen Bayrischen Craisze gehörigen Landschafften. [Frankfurt am Main]: Matthaeus Merian, 1644. Small 2° (300 x 203mm). Engraved title, 51 plates (40 double-page) and 3 double-page maps, one illustration (title with short clean tear at lower margin and small wormholes affecting image, view of Dingelfing lightly waterstained, small rusthole in margin of view of Straubing, view of Donauwerth with long closed tear with loss of image due to adhesive residue, plan of Munich slightly shaved at lower margin, view of Trostberg with clean short tear, some light spotting affecting text). [Bound with:]
Anhang zu des M.Z. Anno 1644 gedruckten Topographia Bavariae. Frankfurt am Main: Heirs of Merian, 1656. 2°, 5 engraved plates, including 3 double-page (view of 'Schlosz und Statt Tittmaning' with crease, text browned). 19th-century half vellum (rubbed), modern slipcase.

FIRST EDITIONS. One volume out of the set Topographia Germaniae which appeared from 1642 onwards. The series was completed by Merian's heirs in 1654 with the 16th volume on the Netherlands and Burgundy. Companion volumes for all European countries were planned, but the project was discontinued after the publication of the volumes on France, Rome and Italy. "The total 23 volumes (including index) provided indispensable illustrative material for the German-speaking nations from the 17th century to the early 19th: Goethe and Jacob Burckhardt learnt from them. The picture that we have of the European cities as they were in the late Gothic and early Baroque periods is largely based on Merian engravings." (Grove Dictionary of Art).

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