Carta delle Tre Valli di Piemonte

The Valleys of Lucerna, San Martino, and Perosa by Valerius Crassus

Rare map of the Piemonte region of Italy, which appeared in Samuel Morland's The History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piemont. Containing a most exact Geographical Description of the Place, and a faithfull Account of the Doctrine, Life, and Persecutions of the Ancient Inhabitants. Together, with a most naked and punctual Relation of the late bloudy Massacre, 1655. And a Narrative of all the following Transactions, to the Year of Our Lord, 1658.

It graphically depicts the rugged terrain of the Piedmont region with numerous towns and villages identified by tiny buildings nestled in the hills. The map is augmented by a small inset below the Italian title showing the Piedmont region in relation to the cities of Milan, Genoa and Nice. North is oriented to the right with titles in both Italian and English. Engraved by Valerius Crassus.

Samuel Morland was sent to this region by Oliver Cromwell to protest the treatment of the Waldenses (Protestants) by the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel II who had massacred a large group in 1655. Morland gathered funds to help support the locals, and wrote this work based upon his experiences shortly thereafter.

The map is drawn from a map of the three valleys of Lucerna, San Martino, and Perosa, drawn in 1640 by Valerio Grosso.

Copperplate, very good condition. Rare.

Bibliografia

L. e G. Aliprandi, Le grandi Alpi (2005), n. 224; F. Barrera, Il Piemonte nella cartografia del Cinquecento e Seicento, n. 102; L’immagine delle valli valdesi, n. 15; M. Fratini, La “carta delle tre valli di Piemonte di Valerio Grosso”.