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Thirty Years War (1618-48)

Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war

? MELCHIOR TAVERNIER (1594-1665)

Siege of Corbie, 1636

PLAN DE CORBIE

1636 or later

Etching and engraving; printed on paper; guarded into a volume | Scale: 1:10,800 approx. | RCIN 722039.d

A high oblique view/map of the siege of Spanish-held Corbie by the French Royal army, commanded by Louis XIII (27 September 1601-14 May 1643), Gaston d'Orléans (24 April 1608-2 February 1660), and the Comte de Soissions between 24 September and 9 November 1636, resulting in the capitulation of the town. Thirty Years War (1618-48). Oriented with west to top (cardinal points).

There is no explanation to the letters on the map. An almost identical map, which also lacks a key, is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The only difference is that the BnF example lacks a title and has an inset depicting a view of one of the siege batteries in place of the title panel.

What may be the original manuscript design for this map, or a manuscript copy of it, is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. It is entitled 'Plan de la ville et du siège du Corbie / par René Barry, conseiller du Roy et historiographe de Sa Majesté, tiré des Triomphes de Louis XIII; ouvrage entrepris et finis par Jean Valdar, Liégeois, calcographe du Roy.' A loose re-engraving of the printed plan was published in Les Triomphes de Louis le Juste, XIII. du nom … (1649); this lacks all lettering, the compass rose circle is blank, and the frame of a title panel, bl, has been infilled with engraved detail; other finer points of the design, have been omitted; see RCIN 1029977. A description of the action at Corbie is on p.83 of Les Triomphes

This is one of an untitled volume of fifteen prints and maps of the campaigns of Louis XIII between 1629 and 1640. See RCIN 722039 for the main entry.

  • ? Melchior Tavernier (1594-1665) (publisher)

  • Watermark: Large coat of arms

    Condition: one fold line; creased; foxing and surface dirt around the edges of both sides; wormholes to bottom margin, matching the holes in the folio above and below

     

  • Scale: 1:10,800 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 300 Thoises [54 mm =].

    39.5 x 52.1 cm (image and neatline)

    40.5 x 52.7 cm (platemark)

    45.4 x 59.9 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    PLAN DE CORBIE. [bottom left, in rectangular panel]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: none.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, brown ink:] 3.

    George III catalogue entry:

    France Campagnes de Louis XIII (Les Plans des Sieges et des Batailles données en France et en Italie par le Roy Louis XIII depuis 1629 jusques a 1640) Fol.

  • Subject(s)

    Corbie, Picardie, France (49°54ʹ32ʺN 02°30ʹ26ʺE)

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024