The Venetian Kingdom of Crete.
Boschini, Marco.
The Kingdom of Crete. "l Regno di Candia." Venice "
Marco Boschini Venetiano, al Serinissima Principe E Regal Collegio di Venetia" 1651
Copper engraved map of Crete, the general map of Marco Boschini's "
Il Regno tutto di Candia." folded, verso blank. 2 medallions, 1 with the lion of Venice surmounted by a crown.
A detailed map showing the mountainous nature of the island, and naming of all the coastal settlements; Elizabeth Clutton feels that it was based on the earlier map of Francesco Basilcata. Dark impression; very pale dampstain to upper margin.
Marco Boschini, [1613-78]
Venetian painter and engraver, published two important works regarding Greece.
"
Il regno tutto di Candia" in 1651. (1st & only edition). Boschini started work on the survey of Crete in 1645, the year in which the Turks invaded the island. In his dedication to the work he mentions a large map of the island dated 1645 [of which only 2 copies are recorded] there is no copy of the complete work known of this date.
Boschini published the work in 1651, when the city of Candia [Iraklion] had been in a state of siege for 4 years ( it was to last 22 years): he undertook the work to illustrate the Venetian valour in the face of the Ottoman attack on Crete
"L'Archipelago."an isolario of the Greek Islands in 1658.
The outlines of the Islands in the
"L'Archipelago" recall those of Bartelemeo dalli Sonnetti, whose "
Isolario" Venice. 1485 was the first appearance of the islands in printed form.
Zacherakis: 592/394. Blackmer /Navari:171; Blackmer/Sotheby's:37. 224 by 428mm (8¾ by 16¾ inches).
ref: 1954
€3200