Petrus Bertius (1565-1629)

Petrus Bertius, born at Beveren, Flanders, in 1565, was related to Pieter van den Keere (Kaerius) and Jodocus Hondius. Both famous cartographers were brothers-in-law of Petrus Bertius. As a refugee, he settled in Amsterdam, and after finishing his studies, he became a professor of mathematics and librarian at the University of Leiden. In 1618, he became a cosmographer and historiographer for Louis XIII of France. He lived in Paris, where he died in 1629.
Petrus Bertius's remarkable work ethic is evident in the numerous geographical and theological works he produced. His contributions to the works of Clüver and Herrera further solidified his reputation in geography.
His fame among geographers was established by his text in the pocket atlas Tabularum Geographicarum and by his edition of Ptolemy’s Geographia.
The origin of the Tabularum Geographicum lies in the well-known miniature atlas Caert thresoor, published by Barent Langenes in 1598 in Middelburg. Bertius engraved 169 maps for this small but attractive atlas, sold for the first time in 1599 by Cornelis Claesz in Amsterdam. In 1600, Claesz published the pocket atlas with a Latin text composed by Petrus Bertius. From then on, new editions, often enlarged with new maps, regularly appeared, subsequently published by Cornelis Claesz, Jodocus Hondius, Johannes Janssonius and ultimately, in 1649, by Claes Jansz. Visscher.
Koeman divides this series of pocketbooks into two atlases: The Caert-thresoor, published by Langenes and Claesz., with five editions between 1598 and 1609, and the Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum by Petrus Bertius with ten editions between 1600 and 1650.

The Blaeus: Willem Janszoon, Cornelis & Joan

Willem Jansz. Blaeu and his son Joan Blaeu are the seventeenth century's most widely known cartographic publishers.

Willem Jansz. (also written Guilielmus Janssonius) = Willem Janszoon Blaeu was born in Uitgeest (Netherlands), near Alkmaar, in 1571. He studied mathematics under Tycho Brahe and learned the theory and practice of astronomical observations and the art of instrument- and globe-making.

In 1596, he came to Amsterdam, where he settled down as a globe-, instrument- and map-maker. He published his first cartographic work (a globe) in 1599 and probably published his first printed map (a map of the Netherlands) in 1604. He specialised in maritime cartography, published the first edition of the pilot guide Het Licht der Zeevaert in 1608, and was appointed Hydrographer of the V.O.C. (United East India Company) in 1633. After publishing books, wall maps, globes, charts and pilot guides for thirty years, he brought out his first atlas, Atlas Appendix (1630). This was the beginning of the great tradition of atlas-making by the Blaeus.

In 1618, another mapmaker, bookseller and publisher, Johannes Janssonius, established himself in Amsterdam next door to Blaeu's shop. No wonder these two neighbours began accusing each other of copying and stealing their information and became fierce competitors who did not have a good word to say about each other. In about 1621 Willem Jansz. decided to end the confusion between his name and his competitor's and assumed his grandfather's nickname, 'blauwe Willem' ('blue Willem'), as the family name; after that, he called himself Willem Jansz. Blaeu.

Willem Janszoon Blaeu died in 1638, leaving his prospering business to his sons, Cornelis and Joan. We only know that Cornelis's name occurs in the prefaces of books and atlases until c. 1645.

Joan Blaeu, born in Amsterdam in 1596, became a partner in his father’s book trade and printing business. 1638, he was appointed his father’s successor in the Hydrographic Office of the V.O.C. His efforts culminated in the magnificent Atlas Major and the town books of the Netherlands and Italy – works unsurpassed in history and modern times, giving eternal fame to the name of the Blaeu's.

On February 23, 1672, a fire ruined the business. One year later, Dr Joan Blaeu died. The fire of 1672 and the passing away of the director gave rise to a complete sale of the stock of the Blaeu House. Five public auctions dispersed the remaining books, atlases, copperplates, globes, etc., among many other map dealers and publishers in Amsterdam. The majority was acquired by several booksellers acting in partnership.

In the succeeding years, the remaining printing department was left in the hands of the Blaeu family until 1695, when the printing house's inventory was sold at a public auction. That meant the end of the Blaeu's as a printing house of world renown.