Antique Map of Southern Germany

Antique map titled 'Circulus Bavaricus (..)'. This antique map depicts a portion of southern Germany that included the historic regions of Bavaria, the Palatinate, Prussia-Brandenburg, the Rhineland and Saxony. Regensberg, Freising and Munich are at the center of the image with areas shown east to Linz, south to Innsbruck, west to Kempten, north to Amberg. An inset of "Palatinatus Bavariae" appears in the upper right surrounded by decorative colored engravings of the putti, garlands and shields displaying the crests of major cities. Published by F. de Wit.

Frederick de Wit (1629-1706) was known as a map publisher, engraver and seller. He worked in Amsterdam from the Kalverstraat ('Bij den Dam inde dry Crabben' to 1654 and then from 'In de Witte Paskaert' from 1655 to 1706). He produced a large amount of cartographic material including separate terrestrial maps and sea charts, sea and terrestrial atlases, wall maps, and town views. Many of his maps were colored by master Dutch colourists of his day such as Dirck van Santen. De Wit also acquired numerous copperplates from those auctioned by the Blaeu and Janssonius publishing houses sometime after 1674 and republished these works, often with his imprint added. On his death in 1706, The business was continued for a time by his widow Maria untill 1709. In 1710, the De Wit plates were sold to Mortier, Van der Aa, and Renard.

Condition: Good. General age-related toning. Minor wear and soiling. Please study image carefully.

Date: c.1680

Overall size: 65 x 52.8 cm.