1700 Martineau Map of Greece, the Balkans, and Turkey in Europe
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Description: An uncommon c. 1700 map of Greece and the Balkans. Centered on modern day Greece this map covers from Poland to Crete (Candie) and from the Gulf of Venice to the Black Sea, inclusive of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, and Dalmatia, Moldova, and Transylvania. At the opening of the 18th century most of Greece and the Balkans were under the control of the Ottoman Turks. A decorative title cartouche depicting a Greek Orthodox priest and a Grecian warrior appeasr in the lower left quadrant. Surrounded by sixteen armorial crests, but seven of which but seven have been completed. The empty crests, three of which have been set aside for ‘Raguse’, Greece, and ‘Romanie’, suggest that the cartographer had unrealized plans for this map. It was prepared for Martineau du Plessis’ Nouvelle Geographie, published in 1700.
Date: 1700 (undated)
Source: Martineau du Plessis, Nouvelle Geographie, ou Description Exacte de l'Univers (George Gallet, Directeur de l'Imprimerie des Huguetan), vol 2, 1700.
References: Bibliotheque Nationale de France: Réserve A 200 189
Cartographer: Martineau Du Plessis (fl. c. 1700) was a French geographer and schoolmaster from Fontenay, possibly Fontenay-le-Comte. He is best known for his multivolume geography, Nouvelle Geographie issued in 1700. Little else is known of his life. Click here for a list of rare maps by Martineau de Plessis.
Size: Printed area measures 7.5 x 8 inches (19.05 x 20.32 centimeters)
Condition: Very good. Closed verso repair extending approximatly 2 inch from right center margin. Original fold lines. Blank on verso.
Code: GreeceBalkans-martineau-1700 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)


