Milano

Map taken from "Thesaurus Antiquitatum et Historiarum Italiae, Neapolis, Siciliae Sardiniaae, Corsicae and Melitae," a monumental work by Georgius Graevius published in the first quarter of the 18th century.

Between 1704 and 1725, the 45 volumes of the "Thesaurus antiquitatum" were printed in Leiden, a complex, laborious generation, extolled by some as extraordinary, criticized, on the other hand, by others, who spoke of it as a "compilation énorme sans choix e sans ordre". A project that concerned contemporaries a great deal, in Italy, but interested little historiography afterwards, which, except in rare cases, emphasized its merely scholarly character and substantial uselessness.

However, Graevius' work is enriched by the valuable plates signed by Dutch publisher Pieter Vander AA.

Pieter van der Aa was by 1682 the owner of a bookstore and auction house. During his lifetime he published an enormous amount of printed material. After 1700, van der Aa specialized more and more in geography and travel books. He published composite atlases, a series of geographical descriptions of European countries, and some very spectacular works. Between 1706 and 1708 he published Naauweurige versameling der gedenkwaardigste zee- en land-reysen, in 28 volumes. Many of Van der Aa's publications are richly illustrated with maps and plates. He took over many copperplates and prints from other publishers such as Carel Allard and Frederik De Wit. The composite atlases that came out of his workshop contain a curious mixture of his own material, copies of maps from other publishers, and reprints of old copper plates, now bearing his signature.

The Galérie agréable du monde, completed in 1729, comprised 66 parts, bound in 27 volumes. Van der Aa presented it as a good investment; after publication, the work's antiquarian value would double, especially since it was printed in a limited edition of only one hundred examples.

Etching, finely hand-colored, in excellent condition.