[Atlases & Maps] [Manuscript maps] Merck, Johann (1619-1669). Osburg. Ysendyck. Birvliet Three manuscript maps of the fortifications around Oostburg, IJzendijke and Biervliet, all approx. 18 x 29 cm, monogrammed and dated January 1647, numb. LX, LIX and LVII in pen, two plans on paper w. fools cap watermark, under passepartouts. Oostburg plan w. a legend listing 6 areas numb. on the map. Johann Merck was a German military surveyor who worked in the Netherlands from 1643 to 1649, and he made the preparatory drawings for Theatrum Europaeum and Topographia Germania Inferioris, published by Matthäus and Caspar Merian. Provenance: The original manuscript atlas this leaf was taken from was entitled 'Festina Lente', and it contained 124 fortification plans by Merck. It was unfortunately broken up. See the Beijers book auction, Utrecht, 25-26 March 1981, lot number 1436. The present auction offers a total of 21 plans from that atlas. Cf. P.M. Meurer, Der Geldern-Plan des Johann Merck aus dem Jahre 1646. Ein Schlüsselwerk für eine Neudatierung der Festungspläne Gelderns im 17. Jahrhunderts, in Geldrischer Heimatkalender, 2001, pages 198-207.