180. Gastaldi, Giacomo – Forlani, Paolo – Valegio, Francesco: Geografia...

... della Italia di Giacomo Gastaldo...
Venice, about 1596.
Scarce, finely detailed copperplate map of Italy by Paolo Forlani. The two separately printed parts are joined and sold individually. It was first published in 1563 and cartographically based on Giacomo Gastaldi’s similar map (1561), which is considered today as one of the milestones of Italian cartographic history. Our copy is the 5th state of the work, slightly revised by Francesco Valegio (his name is indicated below the cartouche). The large-scale, regional representation focuses on the Apennine Peninsula. It accurately represents the detailed area, extending from the northern Italian lakes to the Straits of Messina and in the west-east direction from Cannes – including Corsica and the northern part of Sardinia – to the green island of Corfu. Emphasising the cartography, the engraver used simpler visual expressions. He abandoned Gastaldi’s engraved vignettes and displayed only one wind rose in his work. However, he placed the title field and linear scale in a classical-style cartouche decorated with Doric columns.
Dimensions: 525 x 775 (535 x 795) mm. Professionally restored copy.
Bifolco – Ronca: Tav. 914.
 
Starting price: 2 800 000 Ft