La Ville de Bagdad, dans la Turquie

Method Copper engraved
Artist Pieter van der Aa
Published a Leide, Chez Pierre vander Aa. [A Amsterdam, chez Michel Charles le Cene, Libraire, Chez qui l'on trouve un affortiment general du Musique. MDCCXXVII. Avec Privilege.]
Dimensions Image 285 x 347 mm, Plate 290 x 352 mm, Sheet 302 x 364 mm
Notes An impressive eighteenth century view of Baghdad, modern day Iraq, engraved and printed by Pieter van der Aa, for Abraham de Wicquefort's Voyages tres-curieux & tres-renommez faits en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse, a translation of the travel narrative of the German polymath Adam Olearius, who was the ambassador of Frederick Duke of Holstein to the Safavid court. The view is taken from a rise outside the city, looking down on its monumental walls, mosques, and palaces. The Tigris river cuts a horizontal band through the image, populated by numerous sailing vessels, and crossed by a single bridge to a suburb on the opposite side of the river. The title refers to the city as being in 'Turkey,' a reference to its then inclusion in the Ottoman empire, having been fought over between the Turks and Persians throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth century. The Ottoman city was a shadow of its former grandeur, having already been reduced by the Mongols in 1258, and Timur in 1401.

Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733) was a Dutch publisher, best known for preparing maps and atlases. Despite producing his own work, van der Aa is also known for his production of pirated editions of illustrated publications and foreign bestsellers. Beginning his career as a Latin trade publisher in Leiden in 1683, van der Aa's ambition was to one day become the most famous printer in the city. In 1715, van der Aa was appointed the head printer for Leiden and its university.

Condition: Central vertical fold, as issued. Small tears to bottom margin, and top of central fold. Blank on verso.
Framing unmounted
Price £275.00
Stock ID 48523

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