Rare early Tavernier map of Switzerland and part of Italy, based upon the surveys of Gaspard Baudouin, illustrating the region of Switzerland and Northern Italy which was the scene of military action during the reign of Louis XIII.

The map extends south to include Milan and Crema and north to Basle. The map is one of the two earliest maps known to have been engraved by Melchior Tavernier and includes the annotation "A Pris chez Melchior Tavernier demeurant sur L'Isle du Palais sur le quay qui Regard la Megiserie." Most original maps by Tavernier's maps were "seat of war" maps, illustrating the military movements during the reign of Louis XIII. Fordham notes this map of Switzerland and Northern Italy, along with Carte et Description Generale de la Valtoline, as Tavernier's two earliest printed maps.

Melchior Tavernier was an engraver and printer to the King of France and would also serve as the distributor in France of the cartographic works of Hondius, Jansson and Blaeu. He was the principal mapmaker in France between the eras of Jean Le Clerc and Nicolas Sanson. His business would pass on the to Pierre Mariette, who in turn would partner with Nicolas Sanson. Tavernier, would later publish some of Christophe Tassin maps in his own atlas production (Theatre Geographique 1634, 1637, 1638, 1643). A number of Sanson's earliest maps include Tavernier's imprint.