Monarchium Bavariae

A rare and historically vital engraving, an uncolored example of 'Monarchium Bavariae. Gesamtansicht aus der Vogelschau' - the first printed city map of Munich, ca. 1613, created via copperplate. Etched by German mathematician TOBIAS VOLCKMER (1586 -1659) based on his own measurements, the engraving shows a detailed 'bird's eye view' of the houses, streets, and city walls of Munich, and the left side lists the city's most important buildings and details the developing settlements in and around the city in German and Latin. Numerous scenes from the everyday life of Munich's citizens and the court are also recorded on the map, including hunting, herding cows, rafting, bleaching of cloth, etc. Pinholes at the corners, two light folds with some 1 in. marginal tears repaired on the verso, each barely visible under normal conditions and mentioned only for accuracy. Fine condition and suitable for display. As the first city plan of Munich, this map influenced German cartography well into the Age of Enlightenment. Rarely offered on the market due to its rarity.