Nova Descriptio Africae (ca 1630s) - Merian, Matthaus

Matths Merian, the leading German illustrator of the 17th century, was born in Basel in 1593. He learned the art of copperplate engraving in Zurich and subsequently worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, Paris, and the Low Countries. In 1618 he went to Frankfurt, wherein in 1618, he married the eldest daughter of J.T. de Bry, publisher and engraver. After de Bry died in 1623, he took over his business. De Brys business remained in Merians family until 1726, when a fire destroyed it. In 1635 he began the series Theatrum Europaeum. Between 1642 and 1688, he published Martin Zeillers Topographia Germaniae, with more than 2,000 plates etched and engraved by himself and his sons Matths and Caspar. He also took over and completed the later parts and editions of the Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages, initially started by de Bry in 1590. Matths Merian died after in 1650 in Bad Schwalbach near Wiesbaden.

Copper engraving, printed on paper. Size (not including margins): 27 x 36cm English. Newe Archontologia Cosmica, Frankfurt, W. Hoffmans. ca 1630s. Date of the first edition: 1635 - unclear what date this is.. Slight wear with crease in middle. Book No: 2505430