This product is successfully added to your cart
Questions about this product? (#11157)

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.

England, by W. Blaeu. 1635

The Blaeus: Willem Janszoon, Cornelis & Joan

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

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 specialized in maritime cartography and 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 thirty years of publishing books, wall maps, globes, charts and pilot guides, 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. It is no wonder that these two neighbours, who began accusing each other of copying and stealing their information, became fierce competitors who did not have a good word to say about each other. In about 1621 Willem Jansz. decided to put an end to the confusion between his name and his competitor's, and assumed his grandfather's sobriquet, 'blauwe Willem' ('blue Willem'), as the family name; thereafter he called himself Willem Jansz. Blaeu.

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

Joan Blaeu, born in Amsterdam, 1596, became partner in his father’s book trade and printing business. In 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 Netherland and of Italy – works unsurpassed in history and in modern times, which gave eternal fame to the name of the Blaeus.

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 a number of booksellers acting in partnership.

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

back

Anglia Regnum.

€320  ($339.2 / £272)
add to cart
Buy now
questions?
PRINT

Item Number:  11157 Authenticity Guarantee

Category:  Antique maps > Europe > British Isles

Old, antique map of England by W. Blaeu.

Title: Anglia Regnum.

Date of the first edition: 1634.
Date of this map: 1635.

Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 385 x 500mm (15.16 x 19.69 inches).
Verso: French text.
Condition: Original coloured, centrefold split repaired, light age-toned.
Condition Rating: B.

From: Théâtre du Monde ou Nouvel Atlas. J. Blaeu, 1635. (Van der Krogt 2, 2111)

The Blaeus: Willem Janszoon, Cornelis & Joan

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

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 specialized in maritime cartography and 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 thirty years of publishing books, wall maps, globes, charts and pilot guides, 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. It is no wonder that these two neighbours, who began accusing each other of copying and stealing their information, became fierce competitors who did not have a good word to say about each other. In about 1621 Willem Jansz. decided to put an end to the confusion between his name and his competitor's, and assumed his grandfather's sobriquet, 'blauwe Willem' ('blue Willem'), as the family name; thereafter he called himself Willem Jansz. Blaeu.

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

Joan Blaeu, born in Amsterdam, 1596, became partner in his father’s book trade and printing business. In 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 Netherland and of Italy – works unsurpassed in history and in modern times, which gave eternal fame to the name of the Blaeus.

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 a number of booksellers acting in partnership.

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

References: Van der Krogt 2 - 5100:2; Shirley (BI to 1650) - p. 440 pl. 76

Related items

Hereford by Joan Blaeu.

Herefordia Comitatus 1659-72
Hereford by Joan Blaeu.
[Item number: 8822]

€300  ($318 / £255)
Hertford by J. Blaeu.

Hertfordia Comitatus. Vernacule Hertfordshire. 1654-1662
Hertford by J. Blaeu.
[Item number: 8107]

€400  ($424 / £340)
Brecknock, by J. Blaeu.

Comitatus Brechiniae; Breknoke. 1654-1662
Brecknock, by J. Blaeu.
[Item number: 7082]

€300  ($318 / £255)
Pembrokeshire and Caermarthen by Joan Blaeu.

Penbrochia Comitatus et Comitatus Caermaridunum 1654-1662
Pembrokeshire and Caermarthen by Joan Blaeu.
[Item number: 8126]

€400  ($424 / £340)
Cardiganshire, by J. Blaeu.

Ceretica; sive Cardiganensis Comitatus; Anglis Cardigan Shire 1654-1662
Cardiganshire, by J. Blaeu.
[Item number: 7548]

€300  ($318 / £255)
Huntington by J. Blaeu

Huntingdonensis Comitatus - Huntington Shire. 1648
Huntington by J. Blaeu
[Item number: 20972]

€360  ($381.6 / £306)
Monmouth by J. Blaeu

Monumethensis Comitatus. Vernacule Monmouth Shire. 1654-1662
Monmouth by J. Blaeu
[Item number: 7060]

€360  ($381.6 / £306)
Kent, by Blaeu J.

Cantium Vernacule Kent 1662
Kent, by Blaeu J.
[Item number: 22811]

€500  ($530 / £425)
Holy Island, by Joan Blaeu.

Insula Sacra; vulgo Holy Iland; et Farne 1662
Holy Island, by Joan Blaeu.
[Item number: 14300]

€300  ($318 / £255)
Gloucester, by Joan Blaeu.

Glocestria Ducatus; vulgo Glocester Shire 1662
Gloucester, by Joan Blaeu.
[Item number: 22813]

€450  ($477 / £382.5)
The Channel Islands, by J. Blaeu.

Sarnia Insula, vulgo Garnsey: et Insula Caesarae, vernacule Jarsey 1645-48
The Channel Islands, by J. Blaeu.
[Item number: 24640]

€500  ($530 / £425)
England, by N. Visscher II, published by P. Schenk.

Angliae Regnum tam in septem Antiqua Anglo-Saxonum Regna ... c. 1740
England, by N. Visscher II, published by P. Schenk.
[Item number: 25720]

€350  ($371 / £297.5)
Leicester, by J. Blaeu.

Leicestrensis Comitatus. Leicester Shire. 1645
Leicester, by J. Blaeu.
[Item number: 25801]

€420  ($445.2 / £357)
England, by Henricus Hondius.

Anglia Regnum. 1641
England, by Henricus Hondius.
[Item number: 26242]

€450  ($477 / £382.5)
England, by Gerard Mercator.

Anglia Regnum. 1623
England, by Gerard Mercator.
[Item number: 28132]

€450  ($477 / £382.5)
Northern England, by Frederick de Wit.

Tractus Regni Angliae Septentrion, in quo Ducatus Eboracensis, Episcopatus Dunelmensis, Comitatus Northumbriae, Cumbiae, Westmoriae, et Lancasstriae Cum Mona Insula. ca. 1691-93
Northern England, by Frederick de Wit.
[Item number: 29031]

€400  ($424 / £340)
Great Brittain by Sebastian Münster.

Beschreibung Engellandts und Schottlandts. 1578
Great Brittain by Sebastian Münster.
[Item number: 29468]

€380  ($402.8 / £323)
Central England by Nicolas Sanson.

Anciens Royaumes de Mercie, et East-Angles ou sont les Comtés, ou Shiries de Chester, Darby, Nottingham, Lincolne, Rutland, Leicester, Stafford, Shrop-Sh, Hereford, Worcester, Warwick, Northampton, Huntington, Bedford, Buckingham, Oxford, et Glocester en Mercie Cambridge, Norfolk, et Suffolk en East-Angles. 1658
Central England by Nicolas Sanson.
[Item number: 29626]

€250  ($265 / £212.5)
Northern England by Nicolas Sanson.

Ancien Royaume de Northumberland, aujourdhuy Provinces de Nort: ou sont les Comtés de Northumberland, Cimberland, Durham, Westmorland Lancaster, et Yorck. 1658
Northern England by Nicolas Sanson.
[Item number: 29666]

€180  ($190.8 / £153)
England by A. Ortelius.

Angliae Regni Florentissimi nova descriptio. 1584
England by A. Ortelius.
[Item number: 30145]

€750  ($795 / £637.5)