Thirty Years War (1618-48)
Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war
Siege of Casale Monferrato, 1630
REPRESENTATION NOVVELLE ET TRES-VERITABLE, TANT DE LA VILLE DE CAZAL, QVE DV SIEGE COMMENCE’ PAR LE / Marquis de Spinola, Lieutenant general des Armées de l’empire, & de ‘l’Espagne. Et soustenu par M...
published 1630Etching and engraving; printed on the verso of letterpress text then laid down on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges left, bottom and right | Scale: not stated | RCIN 722056.a
A high oblique view/map of the second siege of Casale Monferrato, which was carried out by the Spanish, commanded by Ambrogio Spinola, 1st Marquis of the Balbases (1569-25 September 1630) and defended by Jean Caylar d’Anduze de Saint-Bonnet, Marquis de Toiras (1585-1636), from 24 May to 18 October, when the town was relieved by a supporting French army under Henri II, duc de Montmorency (1595-30 October 1632). This map shows the state of the siege sometime before 10 July 1630. War of the Mantuan Succession (1628-1631). Oriented with west to top (cardinal points).
See the notes to RCIN 722031.
The key to the map (A-I, K-Q, 1-11) is included in the accompanying text (RCIN 722056.b). Tavernier’s introduction to the text, addressed to ‘Messieurs’, explains that the plan of this ‘new’ siege was found upon the person of Prince Doria (this refers to Carlo Doria, 1st Duke of Tursi, 1576-1650, an Italian general commanding the Spanish army during the War of the Mantuan Succession) who was captured on 10 July 1630 at the Battle of Veillane by Henri II de Montmorency (1595-30 October 1632). Doria’s plan showed the state of the siege of Casale as it then was [i.e. before 10 July 1630]. M. Toiras sent the plan by one of his messengers to Louis XIII. The engineer Maupin and Cardinal Richelieu then sent Tavernier to court in order to copy the plans and the accompanying text which he then engraved for dissemination to the public (see RCIN 722056.b).
The map appears to be printed on the verso of letterpress text and then laid down on paper before being mounted. The printed text reads: ‘[…] AV VRAY DE LA VILLE DE VVEZEL, AVEC LA RELAT […] de ce qui est passé à la prise d’icelle par les Hollandois le 29. Aoust 1629.’ [followed by further text and ‘ROOLLE DES PRISONNIERS PRINS …’.
Melchior Tavernier (1594-1665) (publisher) [along bottom of accompanying letterpress text:] A PARIS, Chez MELCHIOR TAVERNIER, Graueur & Imprimeur du Roy pour les Tailles douces, demeurant en l’Isle du Palais, sur le Quay qui regarde la Megisserie, à l’Espic d’Or. 1630.
Watermark: Map: indistinct, a small cartouche? Mount: none. Backing paper: anchor in circle.
Condition: one fold line to both print and mount; some brown discolouration to map and mount. Verso: traces of green staining to bottom edge. Pressure marks from the mounts of items which were kept above and below this map/print in a different collection are present on the recto and verso
Scale: not stated
33.1 x 52.0 cm (image and sheet)
39.9 x 54.5 cm (mount)
Printed title:
REPRESENTATION NOVVELLE ET TRES-VERITABLE, TANT DE LA VILLE DE CAZAL, QVE DV SIEGE COMMENCE’ PAR LE / Marquis de Spinola, Lieutenant general des Armées de l’empire, & de ‘l’Espagne. Et soustenu par M. de Toyras, commandant les Armees du Roy pour la deffence de la place, depuis le 24. de May de l’annee presente 1630. [title on accompanying letterpress sheet, RCIN 722056.b]
Annotations:
George III heading: Casal 24 May 1630.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, red pencil:] 1630. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Casal Plan du Siege de la Ville de Casal commencé par le Marquis de Spinola et soutenu par M. de Toyras, depuis le 24 de May 1630: par le S.r Maupin Ing.r avec une Description; chez Tavernier, 1630.
Subject(s)
Casale Monferrato [Casale, Casal, Cazal], Piedmont, Italy (45°08ʹ00ʺN 08°27ʹ09ʺE)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2928
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
New photography
