Comitatus Bellovacum Vernacule Beauvais

Fine example of Blaeu’s map of the area around Beauvais, France.

This map, centered on the eponymous city, covers the entire area of the French commune of Beauvais; including the adjacent cities of Compiegne, Clermont, Crepy, Beaumont and Montdidier. Geographic features such as woodlands, hills and rivers are depicted pictorially, while various levels of clerical, royal, or civic settlement are individually labeled within the image.

The lower left features a well dressed figure holding the distance scale, while the decorative cartouche in the upper left with garlands and strange creatures. The coat of arms, immediately below, is unfinished.

Published by the Blaeu family around 1650, with French text on verso.