Blaeu, Joan “Gravelinga Gallia Gravelines.” [Gravelines, France]

Joan Blaeu (1596-1673).  “Gravelinga Gallia Gravelines.”  [Gravelines, France].  From Novum Magnum Theatrum Urbium Belgicae Liberae Ac. Foederatae. 

Amsterdam: Blaeu, 1649+.  15 x 20 (neat lines).  Full margins.  Engraving.  Original hand color.  Latin text.  Good condition.   Ref.: Koeman: Bl 63 (64).

This town is in the northwest part of France.  The top part is a profile view with travelers in the foreground.  The bottom, and larger part, is a plan with fortress, access to water and people streaming into the town.  The Blaeu Townbooks of the Netherlands contain favorite plans and towns for historians and collectors in the Netherlands.  Joan Blaeu was finishing his planned 220 illustrations in 1648 as the Treaty of Westphalia was concluding the war between Spain and the Dutch Republic so the spheres of influence of many towns would be uncertain.