• Title : Turcicum Imperium
• Size: 23 1/2in x 19 1/2in (595mm x 490mm)
• Condition: (A) Very Good Condition
• Date : 1643
• Ref #:  93351

Description:
This magnificent original hand coloured copper plate engraved antique map of The Turkish Empire in Europe and Asia from The Balkans to Saudi Arabia and most of Western Asia by Joan and Guillaume Blaeu was in the 1643 French edition of Atlas Nouvs.

The Blaeu family are considered one of the most revered map makers of the last 325 years and it is easy to see why in this beautiful original map. The high level of the topographical detail, the quality of the paper, the artistic professionalism of the engraving and the beauty of the original hand colouring combine to produce a work of art that is beautiful and informative of an era now long gone. (Ref: Tooley; Koeman; M&B)

General Definitions:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color : - off white
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Yellow, green, blue, pink
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 23 1/2in x 19 1/2in (595mm x 490mm)
Plate size: - 20 1/4in x 16 1/2in (515mm x 420mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)

Imperfections:
Margins: - Small professional invisible restoration in top margin, into top border
Plate area: - Small professional invisible restoration in top L & R
Verso: - Restoration as noted

Background:
This is the 17th century view of the Turkish Empire, including the Balkans in south-eastern Europe, the North African littoral, the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula in addition to the area of Modern Turkey.
Much of the place name information on this map is derived from the maps published in 1561 by the Italian mapmaker, Giacomo Gastaldi, whose maps exercised great influence over later European mapmakers, even throughout the 17th century.
Formidable through the barrier presented by the Turkish Empire in the Near East was, by the early years of the 17th century it was beginning to show signs of decadence and weakness, especially after the defeat of the Turkish navy at the hands of the combined Christian forces of Western Europe at the battle of Lepanto in 1571, from which Turkish naval power never fully recovered.
Centered on the palace of the Sultans at Constantinople, the administration of the empire was passed down through local rulers, the Beys, Deys and Pashas, who never lost an opportunity to enrich themselves and to develop often considerable powers of their own.
Further defeats of the Turks occurred in 1669 when Candia (Crete) was taken by the Venetians, and in 1683 when they suffered a humiliating defeat outside Wien (Vienna) at the north-western extremity of European Turkey.