Rare and attractive triple depiction of Istanbul by Seutter

Description

This beautiful c. 1740 German copper print illustrates Istanbul on one sheet in three different ways – on a local combined map and city plan with partial bird’s-eye view, on a regional map, and through a panoramic view. It is presented in French and German.

The local combined map and city plan, presenting as the central image and occupying most of the sheet, shows the European and Asian parts of Istanbul and their wider surroundings, including smaller towns, the Bosphorus (shown as Canal. Der Canal) and its connections to the Black and Aegean seas, as well as the Golden Horn (presented as Le Port. Der Haven). A partial bird’s-eye view depicts hills, fields, vegetation, and buildings in pictorial form.

The map’s title cartouche holds a legend with reference numbers that identify 11 important landmarks and neighbourhoods such as Topkapi Palace (2. le Seragle. Das Schloss.) and Galata (6. la ville de Gallatta Die Statt Gallatta.). The numbering continues outside the cartouche, from 12. to 28.

The main map features a compass rose in the Black Sea and, at the bottom, a distance scale showing “5 milles d’Ittalie”, i.e. five Italian miles, which would equal about 9.3 km or 5.7 miles. In the Bosphorus, arrows indicate the water flow direction. The Aegean is adorned with a small galleon.

The lower right of the main map contains an inset which presents a regional map, focussing on the Balkans and Turkey in Europe but also taking in the far western end of Asia Minor. It is surmounted by a decorative depiction of various military equipment.

Below the main map, a panoramic view of Constantinople occupies the bottom quarter of the print. It shows the historic centre of the city, as seen from Galata, looking south across the Golden Horn. A legend in the centre below the map references 16 important landmarks. Text panels to its left and right narrate Istanbul’s history in German.

Matthäus Seutter engraved and published this print, after a drawing by Joh[ann?]. Jac[ob?]. Andelfinger.

This print is the rarer of two maps with views of Constantinople by Seutter.

A scarce and beautiful portrayal of the ancient metropolis on the Bosphorus.

Condition

Very good.

A clear impression on a sheet issued folding, now flattened. Beautiful early colouring of main map and in outline to inset. Overall clean, with only a few minor stains and smudges, mostly contained to the margins. On verso, professional minor reinforcement at lower centrefold, not visible on recto. Two minor edge tears, closed. A few faint traces of hinging tape.

Item #: 03041

US $2,200.00

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