"Gallia le Royaume de France", Blaeu, Willem

This elaborately engraved map of France is divided into provinces. Numerous towns and cities are located, and there is good topographical detail. A compass rose capped with a fleur-de-lis and four sailing ships appear in the English Channel and Atlantic. Two coats-of-arms, representing the king and the House of Habsburg, are shown in the top corners. There are three cartouches: an ornate title cartouche with a crown and allegorical figures, a distance scale cartouche with a divider on top, and another containing a key identifying episcopal and archepiscopal seats, universities, and parliamentary seats. As the bottom of the title cartouche indicates, this was engraved by Josua van den Ende, who had a fruitful working relationship with Blaeu.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #4000:2A.3.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression with an archivally repaired centerfold separation at bottom and an extraneous crease to the right of the centerfold. Light printer's ink residue with a very faint damp stain that enters the image at bottom.