This product is successfully added to your cart
Questions about this product? (#16772)

Authenticity Guarantee
All items are guaranteed authentic prints (woodcuts or engravings) or manuscripts made at or about (c.) the given date and in good condition unless stated otherwise. We don’t sell facsimiles or reproductions. We deliver every map with a Certificate of Authenticity containing all the details.

Title page for the Blaeu Atlas of England 1642-43

Architectural façade. At the top is the English coat-of-arms. The figure of a 'Britaine' is placed in the centre, below the title panel. At the sides are statues of a Roman, a Saxon, a Dane, and a Norman, with their coats-of-arms.
The general design and the figures were copied from the title page of John Speed, Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, London, 1611.


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.

back

Toonneel des Aerdrycx, oft Nieuwe Atlas, uytgegeven door Wilhelm en Joan Blaeu. Vierde Deel.

€400  ($448 / £336)
add to cart
Buy now
questions?
PRINT

Item Number:  16772 Authenticity Guarantee

Category:  Antique maps > Curiosities

Title page for the Blaeu Atlas of England, Dutch edition,1642-43.

Copper engraving
Size: 41.5 x 24cm (16.2 x 9.4 inches)
Verso: Blank
Condition: COriginal coloured, heightened in gold.
Condition Rating: A
References: Van der Krogt 2, 2:24; Shirley (Titlepages), 46A

From: Toonneel des Aerdriicx, Ofte Nieuwe Atlas, Dat is Beschryving van alle Landen. Amsterdam, 1642-43. (Van der Krogt 2, 221)

Architectural façade. At the top is the English coat-of-arms. The figure of a 'Britaine' is placed in the centre, below the title panel. At the sides are statues of a Roman, a Saxon, a Dane, and a Norman, with their coats-of-arms.
The general design and the figures were copied from the title page of John Speed, Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, London, 1611.


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.

References: Van der Krogt 2 - 2:24; Shirley (Titlepages) - 46A

Related items

Johannes Van Keulen, sea atlas title page.

Scarce. Heightened in gold
De Groote Nieuwe Vermeerderde Zee-Atlas ofte Water-Werelt. Vertoonende in sigh alle de Zee-Kusten des Aardtryks, ... 1693
Johannes Van Keulen, sea atlas title page.
[Item number: 26447]

€1600  ($1792 / £1344)
Joan Blaeu, 'Atlas Maior' title page.

The design is taken from Peter Paul Rubens
Geographia Blaviana. 1662
Joan Blaeu, 'Atlas Maior' title page.
[Item number: 26570]

€1250  ($1400 / £1050)
Allegoric title page of the <i>Atlas Minor</i>, by Nicolaas Visscher II.

Atlas Minor Sive totius Orbis Terrarum contracta delineat(a) ex conatibus Nic(olaus) Visscher ... 1683-1702
Allegoric title page of the Atlas Minor, by Nicolaas Visscher II.
[Item number: 27022]

€450  ($504 / £378)
Allegorical title page of Africa by Joan Blaeu, published by Reinier & Josua Ottens.

Rare
Africa. 1725-50.
Allegorical title page of Africa by Joan Blaeu, published by Reinier & Josua Ottens.
[Item number: 28506]

€3000  ($3360 / £2520)
Allegorical title page of America by Joan Blaeu, published by Reinier & Josua Ottens.

Rare!
America. 1725-50.
Allegorical title page of America by Joan Blaeu, published by Reinier & Josua Ottens.
[Item number: 28507]

€4500  ($5040 / £3780)
Allegorical title page by Joan Blaeu, published by Reinier & Josua Ottens.

Atlas. 1725-50.
Allegorical title page by Joan Blaeu, published by Reinier & Josua Ottens.
[Item number: 28509]

€400  ($448 / £336)
Allegorical atlas title page by Nicolaas Visscher II.

Heightened in gold
Atlas Minor Sive totius Orbis Terrarum contracta delinea... 1683-1716
Allegorical atlas title page by Nicolaas Visscher II.
[Item number: 28787]

€800  ($896 / £672)
Atlas title page by Nicolas Visscher II.

N: Visscheri Germania Inferior Sive XVII Provinciarum Geographicae Generales ut et Particulares Tabulae. - Kaert-Boeck van de XVII Nederlandtsche Provincien, Nieuwlycx uytgegeven door Nicolaes Visscher. After 1677 (privilege)
Atlas title page by Nicolas Visscher II.
[Item number: 30417]

€430  ($481.6 / £361.2)