Rare Old Map of The Alsaces, Duchy of Zweibrücken & Bishopric of Speyer by Visscher, 1690: Strasbourg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Basel

Immerse yourself in the historical intricacies of 'Utriusque Alsatiae, Ducatus Dupontii et Spirensis Episcopatus', a remarkable map crafted by Nicolaes Visscher II in 1690. This masterpiece of cartography captures the regions and political divisions of The Alsaces and Duchy of Zweibrücken & Bishopric of Speyer, areas now part of modern-day France and Germany. The full name of the map translates to 'Both Alsaces, Duchy of Zweibrücken and Bishopric of Speyer', providing a clear understanding of the territories it encompasses.

The map's attention to detail is a testament to the cartographic prowess of the Visscher family, renowned mapmakers of the Dutch Golden Age. Nicolaes Visscher II, the grandson of Claes Janszoon Visscher, followed in his grandfather's footsteps, creating maps that were not only accurate but also works of art. His depiction of these regions, complete with intricate detailing, makes this map a standout piece of historical significance.

Prominently featured on the map are five key cities: Strasbourg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, and Basel. Each city is depicted with a meticulous attention to detail, providing a snapshot of their geographical layout during the late 17th century. This offers a unique perspective into the urban planning and architectural design of the period, making this map a valuable resource for historians and enthusiasts alike.

Beyond the cities, the map provides an insightful look into the political landscape of the time. The Alsaces, the Duchy of Zweibrücken, and the Bishopric of Speyer are all clearly demarcated, reflecting the territorial divisions of the period. This, coupled with the map's geographical accuracy, offers a comprehensive view of the region's historical context, making it a must-have for any collector of historical maps or those with a keen interest in the history of France and Germany.

Some of the significant locations shown on this map:

Alsace:

1. Strasbourg: Known as Argentoratum in Roman times, it is the capital city of the Grand Est region of France. It is notable for its rich history, cultural sites, and as the official seat of the European Parliament.
2. Mulhouse: Founded in the 9th century, it was historically known as Mülhausen. It's known for its industrial history and the Cité de l’Automobile museum.
3. Colmar: Known in German as Kolmar, it is renowned for its well-preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks, and its museums.
4. Haguenau: Known as Hagenau in German, it was the residence of the Hohenstaufen kings.
5. Sélestat: Known as Schlettstadt in German, it hosts the Humanist Library, one of the oldest public libraries in the world.

Duchy of Zweibrücken:

1. Zweibrücken: Known as Deux-Ponts in French, it is the namesake of the Duchy and known for its rose garden.
2. Homburg: It was known for its fort, Hohenburg Castle.
3. Kaiserslautern: Known for its rich history and the Palatinate Forest.
4. Pirmasens: Known for its shoe manufacturing history.
5. Landstuhl: Known for its historic castle, Nanstein Castle.

Bishopric of Speyer:

1. Speyer: Known as Spira in Latin, it is famous for its cathedral, Speyer Cathedral.
2. Heidelberg: Known for Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany.
3. Mannheim: Known as Monnem in local dialect, it is notable for its grid layout and Mannheim Palace.
4. Worms: Known for the Nibelungen saga and the Diet of Worms.
5. Ludwigshafen: Known for its chemical industry.

Other notable locations in the region:

1. Freiburg im Breisgau: Known for its medieval minster and gates.
2. Karlsruhe: Known for its fan-like layout of streets and Karlsruhe Palace.
3. Basel: Known for its location where the Swiss, French, and German borders meet.

(For brevity, the list has been shortened to 20 locations)

Notable boundaries and natural phenomena:

• The Rhine River: A major European river that starts in the Swiss canton of Graubünden and empties into the North Sea.
• The Vosges Mountains: A range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany.
• The Black Forest: A mountainous region in southwest Germany, known for its dense, evergreen forests and picturesque villages.
• The Palatinate Forest: The largest contiguous forest in Germany, located in the Palatinate region of Bavaria.
• The Upper Rhine Plain: One of the major rift zones of the earth, has many old castles and is a major wine-growing area.

Notable historical events (1600-1690):

• The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648): A major conflict that resulted in significant changes in the political landscape of the region.
• The Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678): Resulted in France gaining further territories in the region.
• The Nine Years' War (1688-1697): Often called the War of the Grand Alliance, it had significant battles fought in this region.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x30in (61x76cm), 32x40in (81.5x102cm), 40x50in (102x127cm), 48x60in (122x153cm) and 56x70in (142x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 90in (229cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40.5x51cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps of Europe and European cities to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.