Code: 49420
Author: Blaeu, Johannes/Timothy Pont
Date published: 1647-1672
Copper engraving with original hand colouring.Overall sheet size: 63.2cms x 51.7cms ; image size: 533mm x 423mm. Spanish text on verso pp 83. Beautifully engraved map based upon the survey of Scotland by Timothy Pont between 1583 and 1601 and revised by William Gordon for inclusion in Volume 5 of Blaeu's Atlas, beginning in 1654. The Blaeu maps of Scotland are well regarded for their spectacular ornate cartouches, employing vivid imagery. With ornamental title-cartouche with 4 cherubs and 2 mythological figures and the scale of miles above. Little duting in blank spaces and one spot above the trident in the cartouche and another in blank area to right of cartouche; faint browning to margins else very good condition.The Atlas Mayor (the Spanish edition of the Atlas Maior) is the rarest edition of what De la Fontaine Verwey called :the greatest and finest atlas ever published. Van der Krogt locates only four institutional copies, printed in 1672 or earlier Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was the founder of the Blaeu publishing firm and established the fine reputation of Blaeu maps. In 1634 he commenced publication of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Novus Atlas and on his death he was succeeded by his son Johannes (1596-1673). Johannes continuously enlarged and updated the Theatrum up to 1658, including adding a separate volume devoted to England and Wales. Later the Theatrum was expanded to form the Atlas Maior, published from 1658 to 1672 in five languages, and generally regarded as the pinnacle of atlas- publishing. The Atlas Maior finally incorporated over 650 maps usually found in superb original colour.
