Matthäus Merian; 1593 - 1650.
Matthäus Merian (son); 1621 - 1687.

Born in Basel, studying in France, and moving to Frankfurt, this copper plate engraver teamed up with the most famous publisher Johann Theodore de Bry (whose daughter he married).
Around 1644, together with his son, he collaborated with Martin Zeiler (a well known austrian cartographer, 1589 - 1661) and started to produce "Topographia", eventually a 21 volume massive work replete with maps, plans and bird eye views of cities and towns, portraits of key historic figures, landscapes and landmarks engravings.
Of note his continuation of the publication of "Grands voyages' and "Petits voyages" originally issued by Theodore de Bry father.

"Angers".

This large (19 ¾" X 15 ½") town plan was originally drawn in 1638, its title is printed on the verso.
The present item was printed in 1655 for the "Topographia Galliae".
The four volume treaty (text seems to have been written entirely by Zeiler, while Merian engraved its 300 maps and plans) was produced to glorify the power of Louis XIV (see the capital L in the central coat of arms under the shields of France and of Navarre of which he was both king).
The other coats of arms:
- left; the arms of the town of Angers " D'une clé d'argent posée en pal sur le champ de gueules, le chef d'azur chargé de deux fleurs de lys or ".
- right ; the arms of the de Boilleve family " d'azur à trois sautoirs alaisés d'or ". See in the cartouche the reference to the mayor of the town: the noble (René) d.Boylesve (sieur) de Goismard.
Notice intra muros on the right bank the Ronceray convent (now an engineering school), and on the left bank the St Maurice cathedral and the imposing fortress (château du roi René) now a medieval tapestry museum.
Outside the east walls, the ovals show the remnants of the roman arena.
No text on verso safe for the title 'Angers'.