|
||
|
|
|
|
Proof state of De Fer's early 18th Century plan of Turin, published by De Fer in Paris.
A rare early plan of Turin, with an incomplete title and no detailed in the cartouche at the lower right. The map would appear to be a proof state of De Fer's Turin et sa Citadel, which identifies the Attaques de Turin par l'Armee du Roy Commandee par le Duc de la Feuillade en 1706 le 30 Juin, which was also engraved by Antoine Coquart. The latere edition inclludes an elaborately decorated key locates approximately 29 places.
The present state of the map also pre-dates the addition of the battle lines and fortifications around the town, which were apparently added later. The completed plan can be seen here: /gallery/detail/27727
Nicholas de Fer (1646-1720) was the son of a map seller, Antoine de Fer, and grew to be one of the most well-known mapmakers in France in the seventeenth century. He was apprenticed at twelve years old to Louis Spirinx, an engraver. When his father died in 1673, Nicholas helped his mother run the business until 1687, when he became the sole proprietor.
His earliest known work is a map of the Canal of Languedoc in 1669, while some of his earliest engravings are in the revised edition of Methode pour Apprendre Facilement la Geographie (1685). In 1697, he published his first world atlas. Perhaps his most famous map is his wall map of America, published in 1698, with its celebrated beaver scene (engraved by Hendrick van Loon, designed by Nicolas Guerard). After his death in 1720, the business passed to his sons-in-law, Guillaume Danet and Jacques-Francois Benard.
![Constantinoplen en Egypten door Nicolaus Schmidt in enn zes Jarige Reystogt uyt Duytsland [shows Cyprus]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/57615.jpg)
![(Turin) Nuova pianta della citta di Torino [New Map of the City of Turin]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/86314.jpg)
