Code: 54826
Date: 1646
Dutch edition. pp 358 & 357. Copper engraving with original outline hand colouring. Overall sheet size: 60.2cms x 51.6cms ; image size: 506mm x 381mm. Odd mark to margins and 4.5cms separation at bottom of centrefold far from map itself; some faint showthrough from text on verso in blank areas; one rust spot to left of ship else very good.
Willem Blaeu (1571-1638) founded the family business in 1596. It initially functioned as a globe and instrument makers, but soon expanded into maps, topography and sea charts. The acquisition of thirty-eight copper plates from the estate of Jodocus Hondius in 1622 together with twenty-two of his own maps enabled Blaeu to produce his first atlas, the 'Atlas Appendix' in 1630. The Atlas Novus was Willem’s great work; a major work which intended to include the most up-to-date maps of the entire world. He issued the first two volumes in 1635, but died in 1638 before the atlas was completed. The running of the business was passed on to his sons Johannes (c.1596-1673) and Cornelius, in addition to the role of the official cartographer of the East India Company. After the death of Cornelius in 1644, Johannes continued the business alone and established his own reputation as a great mapmaker. The county maps of England and Wales formed volume four of Blaeu's great atlas, this volume being first published in 1645 , it was re-issued without any alterations in 1662 as the fifth volume instead of the fourth.
The Blaeu family were one of the most famous publishers of maps, globes and atlases during the seventeenth-century. Cartographers, globe makers and booksellers, the Blaeu business flourished in Amsterdam for over 40 years, until a fire destroyed their premises in 1672. They lost all of their plates, prints and stock, which effectively ruined the firm.
