"Candia [on sheet with] Corphu", Merian, Matthaus

A nice pair of views depicting Heraklion, Crete and Corfu. The upper view illustrates the Venetian fortifications of the city and the important shipping port. Below, the fortifications of Corfu are shown with a lone cannon firing in the distance while a flotilla of Turkish ships occupy the harbor. Crete was strategically important in the Eastern Mediterranean as it controlled the maritime routes and access to the Adriatic Sea. Corfu's central location controlled the whole channel between the island and the continent and thus was besieged by the Ottomans numerous times during the Venetian Era.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.MERI-23a #166.1 & 166.2.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression on a watermarked sheet with light toning and foxing.