Candia

This very-rare loose-sheet map of Crete carries at the lower right hand corner the name of the Venetian engraver Nicolò Nelli, and the date of the publication, 1570.

Like the larger maps of The IATO these smaller ones were first issued for a loose sheet circulation, and then assembled in booklet form for interested customer.

The island is shown surrounded by an armada of Venetian war ships. The map is oriented with east at the top and its shape is based on the Matteo Pagano map of the island (1538).

Sometimes the map appear in the rare collection by Simone Pinargenti “Isole che son da Venetia nella Dalmatia et per tutto l’arcipelago fino a Costantinopoli” (1573). Nicolò Nelli (1530 ca – 1573) was venetian engraver of maps, portraits, religious subject and prints. He also traded in prints and published the works of Giovanni Battista Fontana and Giorgio Ghisi and had a business relationship with Bertelli en Zaltieri.

Copperplate, wide margins, perfect condition. Very rare.