"Picardia Regio Belgica, Auctore Ioanne Surhonio", Blaeu, (Family)

Superb example of the decorative style of the Blaeu family, based on the cartography of Jean Surhon. The map is filled with detail of the countryside along the Somme River, and includes Abbeville, Amiens, Saint Quentin and La Fere (which appears to have been a larger city in the seventeenth century than it is today). Handsomely adorned with a strapwork distance scale, Picardie coat of arms held aloft by putti, and local farmers framing the title cartouche. Dutch text on verso, published between 1642-48.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #4100:2A.

Condition: A

Original color on watermarked paper with wide margins and light printer's ink residue. There is some minor toning along the edges of the sheet and several extraneous creases in the blank margins.