Americana Exchange

Auction Details

Auction House Sothebys
Website www.sothebys.com/
Auction Name Travel, Atlases, Maps & Natural History
Sale Number L12401
Auction Date May 09, 2012 - May 09, 2012

Lot Details : Sothebys

Lot Number 54     
Author VISSCHER, CLAES JANSZ.
Title COMITATUS HOLLANDIÆ DENUO FORMA LEONIS...
Year Published 1648
Place Printed AMSTERDAM: CLAES JANSZ. VISSCHER,
Description COMITATUS HOLLANDIÆ DENUO FORMA LEONIS... AMSTERDAM: CLAES JANSZ. VISSCHER, 1648, 460 X 555MM., DOUBLE-PAGE ENGRAVED MAP, HAND-COLOURED, STRENGTHENING TO OLD FOLDS
Lot Note Van der Heijden 23.3, recording only one example of the two earliest states CATALOGUE NOTE A striking remodelling of the Leo map, with fine vignettes and superb engraving; one of the most attractive and desirable maps of the Leo sequence, in the earliest obtainable state. Sometime between about 1610 and 1625, the year when the dedicatee died, Visscher remodelled the Leo in new form, as the "Leo Hollandicus", recasting the lion (now rampant and holding a sword) as guardian of the northern provinces which were in revolt against their Spanish overlords in a nationalistic allegory. The image as a whole speaks to a new resolve, the side panels illustrating the great Dutch cities, the lion the military strength and the two vignettes seemingly representing wealth through trade, enterprise and innovation (the upper panel shows ice- and land-yachts, for instance). It is significant that this version was published in the very year that the Dutch finally achieved their independence, as a celebration of optimism for the future.
Estimated Price GBP 15,000.00 - 20,000.00( USD 22800.00 - USD 30400.00)
Actual Price GBP 46,850.00 ( USD 71212.00)