INSULA sive REGNUM SICILIAE Urbibus praecipuis exornatum et novissime editum per F. de Wit.

Map published in the Atlas Major, 1680 circa. It is decorated with five inset maps depicting views and plans of Sicilian ports of Messina, Palermo, Catania and Trapani, and a plan of Messina erroneously called Milazzo. Cartouche with dedication to Joanni Uytenbogaert embellished with coat of arms in lower right. Decorative title cartouche with two cherubs at the top. Two battling ships on the sea. Detailed map of the island indicating towns, rivers, forests, mountains, and erupting Mount Etna. Flourishing around 1650, Frederick de Wit was one of the most successful map engravers in Amsterdam. Following the decline of the Blaeu and Jansson publishing houses, de Wit cornered the cartographic publishing market by acquiring a vast array of used copper plates. His prolific business encompassed almost every aspect of map making from sea charts and atlases to town books and town plans. His work, which is finely engraved and superbly executed, was extremely popular and continued to be published after his death.

Very good condition; slight tears along the centrefold and margin; some browning to the sea area; laid on Japanese paper.