Antique Map of Paris by Rossingol

"Icy e[s]t le vray pourtraict de la ville, cite, Universite de Parisy 1576" by Rossingol, originally published in Paris, 1576. Often referred to as “The Horseshoe Crab Map”. Originally published by Rossingol. At top “Icy eft le vray pourtraict naturel de la ville, cite, universite de Parisy” In lower left corner “A Paris Chez Melchior Quai DV Portav Foin Qvu Regarde Lilenostredame”. Rossingol's plan of Paris, depicting a bird's-eye view of the city with points of interest labeled including the undeveloped "Lile Nostre Dame", top center of sheet. Title, top center, compass rose, right center. Vignettes of nobles, peasants and illustration of city, across lower section, two coat of arms with angels and other mythological figures, top left and right. On laid paper with watermark lower right corner. This dramatic and beautifully engraved map is notable for having been printed from the original copperplate by the famous Chalcographie du Louvre. It has no center-fold as it was never bound in a book and is not printed on laid paper as were the original 17th century impressions but instead on the heavy "Van Gelder Zonen" fine art paperstock used for original etchings by prominent artists including Picasso and Renoir. In a history of the papermaking firm, K. van der Weel notes that this type of paper with the prominent Van Gelder Zonen watermark was introduced in 1845, and the print is offered in the 1860 Catalogue des Planches Gravées composant le fonds de la Chalcographie et dont les épreuves se vendent au Musée impérial du Louvre thus pointing to a likely printing date in the 1850s. With antique hand coloring. Plate impression approx 6.5 x 7.5, famed under glass 13 x 14 in. Condition; not inspected out of framing. Time toned.