A Series of Plans Illustrating the Growth of Paris

"[Lot of 7] Plan de la Ville de Paris", Fer, Nicolas de

This uncommon and remarkable set of seven plans of Paris illustrate the growth of the city from Roman times through the middle of the seventeenth century. Each plan is a bird's-eye view of Paris and its surroundings, centered on the Seine River. With the exception of the first map, each map includes a legend identifying key buildings and locations on the map. All seven maps are also accompanied by a sheet describing the history of the great city in detail for that time period. These are the first seven plans in an eight-sheet set (lacking the final sheet depicting Paris in 1705), and are smaller versions based on the folio-sized plans by de Fer for Nicolas Delamare's Traite de la police, a well known treatise on city administration.

The first plan, Lutece ou Premier Plan de la Ville de Paris, depicts Paris during Roman times and identifies three temples: Temple de Mars ou Teutates, Temple d'Isis ou de Ceres, and Temple de Mercure ou de Hesus. The homes and properties of the Gaulois are shown in the countryside. The remaining plans are:

B) Lutece Conquise par les Francois sur les Romains, ou Second Plan de la Ville de Paris. Depicts the city during the 5th-10th centuries, during the time of the first Frankish Kings.
C) Troisieme Plan de la Ville de Paris. Depicts the city during the 12th century.
D) Quatrieme Plan de la Ville de Paris. Depicts the city during the 13th century.
E) Cinquieme Plan de la Ville de Paris. Depicts the city from 1367-83.
F) Sixieme Plan de la Ville de Paris. Depicts the city from 1422-1589.
G) Septieme Plan de la Ville de Paris. Depicts the city from 1589-1643.

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Condition: B+

Watermarked paper with light to medium toning and marginal soiling. The fourth plan also has a vertical printer's crease.