1654 Merian, Stein am Rhein, large double folio, Switzerland

Matthäus Merian, engraved by M.I.I. Ringle

“STEIN AM RHEIN - STENIUM AD RHENUM”

View of the municipal town of Stein am Rhein and the castle Hohenklingen, at that time in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Copper engraving, 1654

Issued in the series: Topographia Helvetiae, Rhaetiae et Valesiae

Matthäus Merian der Ältere (or "Matthew", "the Elder", or "Sr."; 22 September 1593 – 19 June 1650) was a Swiss-born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career, where he also ran a publishing house. He was a member of the patrician Basel Merian family.

Liestal, formerly spelled Liesthal, is the capital of Liestal District and the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland, 17 km south of Basel. Citizens of Liestal participated in the Burgundian Wars in 1476 and 1477 against Charles the Bold. In 1501, the mayor swore allegiance to the Swiss Confederation, and this caused repeated conflict with neighboring Rheinfelden, which belonged to the Habsburgs.

Overall size with margins: 29.3 x 37 cm.

Reference: Fauser 13345

Matthäus Merian the Elder was born September 22nd, 1593 in Basel. He studied drawing and copper engraving from the engraver Friedrich Meyer in Zurich. 1619 he went to Frankfurt where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry, whose daughter he married. He took over and completed the editions of Grand Voyages and Petit Voyages which de Bry started in 1590. Together with Martin Zeiller he produced the popular series of Topographia with total 21 volumes. The work was continued by his sons Matthäus the Younger and Caspar. Merian died June 19th, 1650 in Bad Schwalbach.

Excellent condition on fine laid paper. Light age toning to very outer margins.