MERIAN, MATTHAEUS.

TOPOGRAPHIA HELVETIAE RHAETIAE ET VALESIAE. DAS IST, BESCHREIBUNG UND EIGENTLICHE ABBILDUNG DER VORNEMBSTEN STAETTE UND PLAETZ, IN DER HOCHLOEBLICHEN EYDGNOSSSCHAFFT, GRAWBUENDTEN, WALLISS, UND ETLICHER ZUGEWANTEN ORTEN. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, MATTHAEUS MERIAN, 1642.

      Folio. Contemporary calf, spine ribbed and gilt, with red title label, lettered in gold, red painted edges. Richly engraved allegorical title, depicting with the coats of arms of the different Swiss cantons, the stork as the printer's device of Merian, an the inscription 'Concordiae et pacis autor ichoua', two general maps (of Germany and Switzerland), and 74 copper-engraved views on 55 plates by Merian and others. 72, (8) pp. First edition of Matthaeus Merian's (1593-1650) famous and richly illustrated topography of Switzerland. The main interest of the work is in the engravings, which are of a high artistic level, nearly all double-page or folding, with finely executed plans and views of the towns and areas mentioned. The text is by Martin Zeiler (1589-1661).This is the first of Merian's topographical works, dealing with his native country, Switzerland. Extra added are 67 engravings, collected by Alb. Mueller, who acquired the book in 1819, all cut out and pasted on paper and dealing with Switzerland as well and bound in to the suitable chapters:1. Schloss Angenstein, engraved by Matthaeus Merian.2. Die gantze Eydtgnosschafft, engraved by Georg Seiler, printed by Emanuel Hurter, Schaffhausen.3-5. Nouvelle carte geographique de la Suisse, engraved by Jacques Scheuchzer, printed by R. & J. Wetstein and Guil. Smith, Amsterdam.6. Eijgentliche Vorstelung des Brunen Thurns so Ao. 1724 erbauen nebst umligendem Prospect.7. Kronenporten in Zurich.8. Plan des Zuerich-Sees.9-11. Abbildung aller in dem Zuerich See und der Limat sich befindende Gattung Fische.12. Prospect gegen dem Schloss Pfungen im Zuerich Gebieth, engraved by Georg Seiler.13. Prospect der Statt Winerthur, engraved by Vitodur after Ulr. Schellenberg (folding) (Lonchamp 2629 & 2633).14-15. Entdeckung einiger Roemischer Alterthuemer, welche Ao. 1759 in der Herrschafft Regensperg, auf einer Anhoehe ob Buchs unter der Burg ist gemachet worden, engraved by J. R. Holzhalb after J. Mueller (2 plates Lonchamp 2157).16. Prospect beij Thun in der Landtschafft Bern, engraved by J. G. Seiler after Felix Meijer.17. Prospect des obern Theils von dem Genffer See, zu Chardone beij Vivis, engraved by G. Seiler after Felix Meijer.18. Pierre d'un dragon a Lucerne, vue de ses deux cotez, engraved by Joh. Meijer.19. Prospect eines Walserfahls in Underwalden, engraved by J. G. Seiler after Felix Meijer (Lonchamp 2045?).20-31. Series of landscapes in the surroundings of Basle: Kleyben bey Basel, Prospect bey Basel, Wisen bey Basel, An der Wisen bey Basel, Hiltelingen, Hiltelingen bey Basel, Biersee bey Basel, Brigligen bey Basel, Prospect bey Basel, Bey Hinningen, and Wasserfall bey Liechstahl, all engraved by Claes Jansz. Vischer after Matthaeus Merian.32. Hermitage a' deux lieues de Fribourg, engraved by J. P. le Bas in 1775.33. Environs de Fribourg, engraved by J. P. le Bas in 1775.34. Cataracta Rheni - Der Rhein-Fall, engraved by Andreas Hoffer after Melchior Fuesslin.35. Vue des environs de Schaffhausen en Suisse, engraved by P. Ruecker in 1790 after C. Schneider.36. L'agreable solitaire aupres du lac qui s'appelle Katzen-See, engraved by I. S. Negges.37. Wahrhafte Abbildung der Stadt Wyhl, samt der Attaquen, engraved by Melchior Fuesslin.38. Carte de la principaute de Neuchatel et Vallangin en Suisse, engraved by D. F. Merveilleux in 1708.39. Grosse Gletscher oder Eijs Berg, aus dem Ursprung der Rhosne, an der Furca, zu oberst in Wallis.40. Schloss Muenchenstein im Canton Basel, designed by Matthaeus Merian.41-65. Kupferstiche von Versteinerungen, designed and engraved by Johann Melchior Fuesslin, from: Scheuchzer, Natur Geschichte des Schweizerlandes... Zuerich, 1746 (Lonchamp 2645). 66-67. Lauffen, engraved by Matthaeus Merian. Good complete collector's copy with extra engravings.- (Occasionly sl. browned). Schuchhard 62; Eckardt pp. 48-52; introd. to the facsimile ed. of the second ed.: Kassel 1960; Wuethrich IV, 4.