Fifae Vicecomitatus, The Sherifdome ofbyJohannes Blaeu, / Timothy Pont

Code: 53780

Date: Circa 1665

Long title: Fifae Vicecomitatus, the Sherifdome of Fyfe.  .  Copper engraving with both original and later hand colouring.  Dutch text verso, pp 100/99. .  Overall sheet size: 57.3 cms x 45.4cms; image size:  526mm x 416mm.  6cms split from bottom margin strengthened on verso; one faint paper abrasion below title cartouche  else very good condition. Shows the whole Fife peninsula and Edinburgh at bottom of the map

A portion of the text on verso translates: ‘ Now comes the remarkable Fife peninsual, which extends westward in the form of a triangle between the Firths of Forth and Tay.  The land is rich in fruit and pasture and there is much coal.  The sea produces quantities of fish, oysters and other shellfish.  The coasts are studded with little towns, whose inhabitants are excellent mariners.’
.

This map was based on the surveys and sketches of minister, Timothy Pont, born 1565.  His manuscrips were redrawn by Robert Gordon and then published by the Blaeu family.

 Publication of Blaeu's New World Atlas, or "Atlas Novus" was originally begun by Johannes's father Willem Blaeu with the publication in 1635 of two volumes (delineating The World, Europe, Arctic, Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Europe, Germany and the Low Countries; and France, Spain, Asia, Africa and America), and published in four languages (German, Dutch, Latin and French). After succeeding his father, Johannes Blaeu expanded the "Atlas Novus" to six volumes by 1655, and this formed the first half the "Atlas Maior," extending to 11 or 12 volumes by 1662.  Their maps represent the pinnacle of Dutch mapmaking in the C16th.