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Description

An Important Early Map of Rome -- The so-called "Pianta Della Guerra di Napoli"

Finely engraved separately published map of Rome, with East at the top, emphasizing its hills and the major monuments of the city, along with its newly constructed defensive walls.

The map is of greatest note is the depiction of the walls and fortifications constructed in Rome in 1556 and 1557.  Constructed under the direction of Camillo Orsini during the reign of Pope Paul IV, the walls were built to improve Romes defenses against attack from the south by the Spanish Forces who had crossed into the Southern part of the Papal State and were then threatening Rome from the South.  Scholars have come to calling this map the "Pianta Della Guerra di Napoli", (Plan for the War of Naples).

The map includes a dedication to Pope Paul IV (1476-1559).

The map was engraved by N. Beatrizet for Antonio Lafreri in Rome.  This is the first state of three editions, as noted by Bifolco.

Rarity & States of The Map

The map is known in 3 states, this being the first state of the map.

  • State 1:  "Formis Anton. Lafrerii ... "
  • State 2:  Imprint of Pietro di Nobilii
  • State 3:  Imprint of Angiola Marchucc

The map is very rare on the market.  This is the only example we have ever seen offered for sale.

Condition Description
Map trimmed to neat line and remargined in the time, as was normal for Lafreri atlases.
Reference
Bifolco/Ronca #1228.1
Antonio Lafreri Biography

Antonio Lafreri (1512-1577) (also known as Antoine Lafréry and Antoine du Pérac Lafréry) was a French mapmaker, engraver, and publisher who worked in Italy. Lafreri was born in Franche-Comté and moved to Rome around 1540. Lafreri sold sheet maps but he also bound maps into books for his clients based on their interests and needs. These are the famous Lafreri atlases, important pre-cursors to the modern atlas. He also published well known works such as the Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (ca. 1575), a collection of engraved views and images of Rome. Lafreri was well-connected to the cartographic networks of the time, collaborating with Giacomo Gastaldi, Battista Agnese, Antonio Salamanca, Donato Bertelli, Paolo Forlani, and others.