Zimmer Karl: Plan de Candie –MANUSCRIPT. Kandie 25 November 1814. Splendid manuscript plan of Iraklio 24x20cm, prepared by Karl Zimmer, a German officer and military engineer who travelled in Crete in 1814-15, probably in a mission, as more plans were executed by him that time, according his own inscription. Contemporary watercolor, manuscript inscription of three lines at the back with pen and ink, almost fine condition. As Zimmer was an engineer, he paid particular attention to the fortifications of the city, depicting not only the impressive 17th century fortifications still in full use, but also the previous lines of defenses, still possible to trace them, including the Byzantine early ones, as well as the post medieval. The arsenal and several building are present in the plan. Beautiful coloring and cartouche, contemporarily prepared. During Ottoman rule in Greece, any design or measurement of cities or fortifications, even in the countryside was strictly forbidden and if discovered, the penalty of execution was applied. For this reason anyone who risked to make maps or plans on the spot, used small size papers. For this reason very few plans or maps of Ottoman cities exist up to the 1830s/1840s and they are not very detailed. The city of Candia (iraklio) largely populated by Muslims was a particular difficult place to levy plans, but was also a place of major military importance. Unique. Very few manuscript maps from any place in Crete exist.