Antique Copper Engraving of the County of Zutphen – Frederick de Wit (c. 1680)

Always wanted to know where the historical roots of the Achterhoek and the IJssel region lie? Look no further! This magnificent and rare 17th-century copper engraving brings the historic County of Zutphen and the flow of the IJssel to life in your own interior. An absolute dream for cartography collectors, lovers of Gelderland history, or anyone looking for a monumental conversation piece on the wall and yes, should you get lost in the Achterhoek, this map will also help you (with a little patience and historical imagination) find your way again!

This is not just any old map; it is a masterpiece by the famous Amsterdam cartographer Frederick de Wit, published "inde Kalverstraet bij den Dam inde Witte Pascaert". What makes this particular copy extra fascinating is its authentic, tangible history. The paper has the unmistakable, robust texture of handmade paper, giving the map a beautiful historical character. 

Furthermore, there is a charming, obvious center fold (typical of maps that originally come from an atlas volume) and the plate edges of the copper plate are very sharply and deeply printed in the corners and edges. This proves the early, authentic print quality of the copper plate!

• Historical cartography: The map bears the full Latin title “Comitatvs Zvtphaniae et Flvminis Isvlae Nova Delineatio” (New depiction of the County of Zutphen and the river IJssel). 
• Decorative cartouches: At the bottom right shines a beautiful, allegorical cartouche with a river god (symbolizing the IJssel), putti, and the crowned coat of arms with the Gelderland/Zutphen lion.
• Military detail: At the bottom left is a scale bar carried by little angels (putti) indicating the "Gemeene Duytsche Mylen" and "Franse Mylen".
• Geography: Very detailed depiction of cities and villages such as Kampen, Zutphen, Hengelo, Borne, Oldenzaal, Enschede, Nijmegen, Deventer, and Delden.

In the 17th century, house numbers did not yet exist, so shopkeepers gave their building a recognizable name or sign so that customers could find their way. The world-famous cartographer Frederick de Wit very aptly named his thriving shop in Amsterdam's Kalverstraat "Inde Witte Pascaert" (in De Witte Zeekaart). A 'paskaart' was, in that era, the official Dutch term for a navigation or sea chart with which sailors traversed the world's oceans. With this name, everyone on the Dam immediately knew that this was the absolute hotspot for the very finest land maps and atlases. The text at the bottom of the map is therefore actually nothing less than the trendy, 17th-century business card of the maker!

Product specifications
•    Cartographer / Publisher: Frederick de Wit (1629/30 – 1706), Amsterdam. 
•    Date: ca. 1680. 
•    Technique: Copper engraving (etching) on handmade paper. 
•    Features: Clear center fold, deep and sharp plate edges visible in the corners, uncolored/uncolored (strong black-and-white print with a lot of contrast).
•    Frame dimensions: 60.5 x 53 cm (Including a classic, matching wooden frame behind glass).
•    Condition: In antique condition with characteristic signs of age