FRIES, L. / WALDSEEMÜLLER, M. - [Modern France]

Wood block printed map and one of earliest printed representation of "Modern - France" prepared by L. Fries after Martin Waldseemüller.

Based on the slightly larger map from 1513 published in "Ptolemy's Geographia". The atlas was reprinted in 1520, 1522, 1525, 1535 and 1541.
This wood block was cut in 1525 for the publisher J.Grünninger. This being the variant of 1541, now without the banner title and title in letter press and wood cut ornaments on the verso.

From the last edition of Ptolemy's "Geography", with maps by Laurens Fries and the text edited by Michael Servetus.
Servatus who was accused of heresy, and when he was burnt at the stake, Calvin ordered that copies of the book should be burnt with him.
Fortunately it seems that Calvinist authorities may only have burnt a few token copies !