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"The finest Dutch map publishers were the Blaeu family, and they hold the title of mapmakers supreme for any period of cartographical history." (R. Baynton-Williams). Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was the founder of the Blaeu publishing house and established the fine reputation of Blaeu maps. He published his first world atlas, the "Atlantis Appendix" in 1630, in association with his eldest son, Joan Blaeu (c.1599-1673). The atlas was based around the printing plates acquired from Jodocus Hondius Jr.'s stock, who had himself published the later edition of Mercator's "Atlas". The atlas contained some sixty maps. This work was expanded in 1631 to contain 98 maps and bore the joint imprint of father and son with the title "Appendix Theatri A.Ortelii Et Atlantis G. Mercatoris". In 1634 he commenced publication of the "Theatrum" or "Novus Atlas". This two-volume work was larger still with up to 208 maps. This atlas, published in four separate editions in four different languages, was clear evidence of his ambitions. In 1638 Willem Janszoon Blaeu died and control of the business passed to his son, Joan. He "aimed at the full description of heaven, earth and water" and continually expanded the "Novus Atlas" in this quest - it grew to up to 12 folio volumes by c.1662 and was known as the "Atlas Maior", finally incorporating over 650 maps. With the title panel removed, and page trimmed close and laid on album paper, this is an example of Blaeu's "Theatre Du Monde" atlas. The raised theatrical stage supports allegories of the four continents along with other classical figures.

region: Title Pages

mapmaker: J. & C.Blaeu

place and date of publication: Amsterdam 1642

medium and colour: copperplate, Original colour
size in cms: 26 x 40

ref: 34098
literature: Shirley, Courtiers And Cannibals, 46.

Price: £ 320

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[Title Page] Le Monde Ou La Description Generalle ... by P.D'Avity price: £ 380	[Title-Page] Atlas Novus ... Tomi Tertii Continuatio by J.Jansson price: £ 420	[Frontispiece] Grosser Deutscher Atlas by F.J.Von Reilly price: £ 750
[Title-Page] Nouvel Atlas Ou Theatre Du Monde ... Les Pays Bas by J.Jansson price: £ 480	Collectors' Price Guide Potter, Jonathan price: £ 5	Collecting Antique Maps - A New Edition With Price Guide An Introduction To Cartography by Potter, Jonathan price: £ 20

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