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This fine antique print of the city of Soltaniyeh, in northwestern Iran, originates from van der Aa's La Galerie Agreable du Monde. Visible in the work is the grandiose city of Soltaniyeh with lines of merchants and camels approaching. In the distance are massive, foreboding peaks.
The city of Soltaniyeh was built during the Ikhanid Empire in the 14th century. The most famous building in the city, the Dome of Soltaniyeh, is visible in the left of the image and was constructed early in this stage of the Mongol rule of Iran.
La Galerie Agreable du Monde
Published by van der Aa, this monumental text was issued in 66 parts and contained about 3000 plates. Discussing the people, topography, landscapes, and more of the world, this was one of the largest undertakings of van der Aa's career.
Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733) was a Dutch mapmaker and publisher who printed pirated editions of foreign bestsellers and illustrated books, but is best known for his voluminous output of maps and atlases. Van der Aa was born to a German stonecutter from Holstein. Interestingly, all three van der Aa sons came to be involved in the printing business. Hildebrand was a copper engraver and Boudewyn was a printer.
![[Peninsula of Qatar shown] Map of Persia, Arabia, Turkey in Asia, Afghanistan, Beloochistan](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/100289.jpg)