Antique Map of Friesland 'The Netherlands' by J. Bussemacher, 1596

Antique map titled 'Frisiae antiquissima trans rhenu provinc et adiacentium regionum nova et exacta descriptio'. Original antique map of the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. T...

Antique map titled 'Geldria et Transysulana'. One of the earliest maps of Gelderland and Overijssel in the Netherlands, prepared by Gerard Mercator. Artists and Engravers: Gerard...

1643 Willem and Joan Blaeu map of northwest Flanders, entitled "Flandriae Teutonicae Pars Prientalior," Ric0012 " Authentic" - Map of the northwest Fl...

This is an original hand-colored 17th century map of Belgium by Nicolaus (Nicolas) Visscher II entitled "Belgium Foederatum emendate auctum et novissime editum", published in Amsterdam in 1678. The map shows the seven provinces comprising the Belgium federation or the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands or the Dutch Republic as it was also known. The republic was formed when an alliance of seven Dutch provinces in the Spanish Netherlands revolted against rule by Spain in 1579 (the Union of Utrecht) and declared their independence in 1581 (the Act of Abjuration). The seven provinces were Groningen, Frisia, Overijssel, Guelders, Utrecht, Holland and Zeeland. This was a predecessor state to the Netherlands and the first fully independent Dutch nation state. Amsterdam, Delft, Rouen, Utrecht, Brugge, Ghent, and Antwerp are all included on the map. A small inset map in the lower right depicts the course of the Maas River from Maastricht to Wessem. There is a decorative cartouche in the upper left corner and a distance scale cartouche in the lower right corner. The map is presented in an attractive antiqued medium brown-colored wood frame with gold-colored inner and outer trim and a light tan-colored fabric mat. The frame measures 26.63" high by 30" wide by 0.75" deep. There is some darkening of the red areas in the map, presumably related to oxidation of the original iron containing pigment over time. There are also a few scattered spots. The map is otherwise in very good condition. The Visscher family were one of the great cartographic families of the 17th century. Begun by Claes Jansz Visscher...