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Description

Extremely rare map of France, published in Paris by Gerard Jollain.

The map is based upon the 4 sheet wall map by Jean Jolivet. Printed with four woodblocks, the map was first published in Paris in 1560 by Olivier Truschet and Richard Breton, with the title Nouvelle description des Gaules, avec les confins Dalemaigne, et Italye. A second was issued in 1565, however, there is no surviving example of either edition.  The earliest surviving example of the map, dated to 1570, was published by Marc Du Chesne, with a new title: Vraie description des Gaules, avec les confins d’Allemaigne, & Italye.

While the map faithfully follows the cartographic content of Jollain, the view of Paris is very unusual, with many important buildings all shown closely together.  The view looks down the Seine River from the northwest. The western tip of Ile Saint Louis and Notre Dame in the center with a marvelous ancient bridge in the foreground. Immediately behind this bridge is the Pont Neuf, with the original statue of Henry IV constructed in the center. Between the two bridges is the Louvre Palace. The Sorbonne, St. Germain, and the Palais D'Orleans (Palaias Royale) are all shown as well.

Rarity

The map is apparently very rare.  We were unable to locate an example in the Bibliotheque National de France or in OCLC.