A magnificent and richly ornamented map of Europe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu. First published in 1617, this highly decorative map is one of the finest examples of Dutch Golden Age cartography.

The map depicts the European continent in remarkable geographical detail, extending from Iceland and Greenland in the northwest to the Caspian Sea and western Asia in the east, and from northern Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and the northern coast of Africa. Countries, provinces and principalities are distinguished by delicate original hand-colouring, while numerous towns, rivers, mountain ranges and political boundaries are carefully delineated.

The map is particularly celebrated for its elaborate decorative borders, which transform it into a splendid example of early seventeenth-century cartographic art.

Along the upper border are nine circular views of important European cities: Amsterdam, Prague, Constantinople, Venice, Rome, Paris, London, Toledo and Lisbon. These finely engraved miniature panoramas provide fascinating representations of some of Europe's most prominent political, commercial and cultural centres.

The vertical borders contain ten pairs of figures in contemporary national costumes, representing Europe's peoples. The left border shows English, French, Belgian, Castilian, and Venetian figures, while the right-hand border illustrates German, Hungarian, Bohemian, Polish, and Greek costumes. These colourful figures reflect Europe's growing fascination with the customs, dress, and cultural diversity of different nations.

The seas are embellished with sailing ships, sea creatures and a striking representation of Neptune riding across the Atlantic in his chariot, holding his trident. The title appears in a magnificent ornamental cartouche in the upper right corner, inscribed Europa recens descripta à Guilielmo Blaeuw.

Blaeu's map belongs to the celebrated tradition of Dutch carte-à-figures maps, in which geographical information was combined with decorative city views and representations of national costumes. These maps were intended not only as geographical documents but also as prestigious display objects, reflecting the wealth, artistic refinement, and expanding geographical knowledge of the Dutch Republic.

Originally issued as a separate map in 1617, Europa Recens Descripta was subsequently incorporated into Blaeu's atlases. The present example comes from the French-language edition of the Théâtre du Monde ou Nouvel Atlas, published in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1635.

With its splendid architectural cartouche, attractive original colouring, finely executed city panoramas and richly detailed costume figures, this map is one of the most desirable decorative maps of Europe produced during the seventeenth century.

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 mapmaker. 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.

A fire ruined the business on February 23, 1672, and one year later, Dr. Joan Blaeu died. The fire and the director's passing caused the complete sale of the Blaeu House's stock. 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 remained 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 family as a printing house of world renown.