Cherbourg – Antique Hand-Colored French Coastal Town Engraving (1666)
€ 330
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1666
Mapmaker / artist
Published in Antwerp for Fransche Merkurius, 1666
Technique
Hand-colored copper engraving
Sheet size
15.4 × 21.9 cm (6.1 × 8.6 in)
Condition
Fair
Reference
BG-14168-3
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Fair to good condition. The image area is well preserved with bright hand-coloring. Noticeable foxing and age-toning in the margins, typical for 17th-century laid paper. No tears or losses affecting the image. Plate impression clear. Paper stable.
About this sheet
Cherbourg – Antique Hand-Colored French Coastal Town Engraving (1666)
This 17th-century copper engraving presents a finely detailed early plan of Cherbourg, published in Antwerp in 1666 for the atlas associated with the Fransche Merkurius. Shown from an elevated bird’s-eye perspective, the fortified port town is depicted with its protective walls, harbor entrance, clustered houses, surrounding fields and farmland, and several sailing ships positioned in the Channel. The engraving is enriched with period hand-coloring in soft greens, blues and reds, typical of Flemish workshop coloring of this era.
Mid-17th-century town plans from the Fransche Merkurius are prized for their compact format, clarity of engraving and vivid historical subject matter. Cherbourg, an important harbor in Normandy with medieval defensive structures, appears here in its early modern form before later expansions. The engraving is a desirable piece for collectors of Normandy views, French coastal history, and early cartographic town plans. The wide margins and strong impression give it good decorative presence.
Condition report: Fair to good condition. The image area is well preserved with bright hand-coloring. Noticeable foxing and age-toning in the margins, typical for 17th-century laid paper. No tears or losses affecting the image. Plate impression clear. Paper stable.
Framing tips: A simple natural oak or walnut frame pairs well with the soft hand-coloring. A cream or light ivory mat helps minimize the visual impact of the marginal foxing and draws focus to the town plan. For a more contemporary look, a thin black frame with a wide white mat provides strong contrast.
