One of the Most Beautiful, Early Maps of Sicily with Attractive Views

DE WIT, Frederick. [Amsterdam, c. 1680]

Sicily.  WIT, F. DE  [Amsterdam, c. 1680]  Insula Sive Regnum Siciliae … 19  ¼ x 22 ¾  inches.  Superb original color, refreshed; a few folds & areas of oxidation reinforced, overall very good.                                                                                                     

A very attractive example of this richly engraved and colored map, supplemented with five views of the island’s major cities and sites: Messina, Palermo, Catania with an erupting Mount Etna in the background, Trapani (“Trapano”), and a diagram of the city walls of the strategically located port of Milazzo. The map is embellished with a fine dedicatory cartouche and a sea battle. The map itself includes numerous places as well as archeological sites and a depiction of the island’s rugged topography.

The firm of Frederick De Wit was the most prolific successor of that of his mentor, Willem Blaeu.  However, De Wit, as evidenced here, often supplemented his maps with rich pictorial elements.

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