DE WIT, F / VAN DER AA, P. - Florentia Pulcherrima et Ruriae Civitas.

Detailed bird's-eye view of the town of Florence first published in Frederick de Wit's rare town book. With two keys 1-17 and 1-228 to important spots in town. To the left and right on each side 5 town views.
This magnificent etching was done by Václav Hollar, known in England as Wenceslaus or Wenceslas and in Germany as Wenzel Hollar (13 July 1607 – 25 March 1677). He was a Bohemian etcher, who lived in England for much of his life. He was born in Prague, and died in London, being buried at St Margaret's Church, Westminster.

Frederick de Wit published after 1694 a town book of European and Asian cities (Theatrum Praecipuarum Totius Europae…) composed of 132 plans and views, mainly printed from the plates obtained from Janssonius. The date of publication is uncertain, but must be after 1694 when he bought the stock of copper plates from Janssonius. He also published in or after 1698 two editions of a town book of the Netherlands with 124 plans and views.
His widow continued the business after his death, but in 1710 the stock was sold to Coven & Mortier, who on his turn sold the stock to Pieter van der Aa of Leiden, who used the plates to print his multi-volume work, "La galérie agréable du Monde".