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[ Page two of maps of Europe ]
This woodblock map focusing on present-day Italy and Corsica was cut as early as 1522 for the third Strassburg edition of Ptolemy's Geography edited by Laurent Fries. That issue of the atlas contained three new maps, and one was famous for having the name "America" on it for the first time in an atlas. The cartographic woodblock was used again in 1535 by Michael and Gaspar Trechsel in Lyon and contained text by Michael Villanovanus or Servetus. The Latin text on the back is surrounded by a decorative woodblock border which is attributed to Hans Holbein who was then working in Basle. The same woodblock borders were used in the 1541 edition of the same maps published in Vienna. This cartographic depiction of the region, appearing in three known editions of Ptolemy's Geography in the sixteenth century, would have been the most frequently seen map of this region in the western world at that time. $1,100
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Willem Blaeu. "Regnorum Hispanae nova descriptio." From Nouvel Atlas. Amsterdam: Willem & Joan Blaeu, 1643-50. 14 3/4 x 19 1/4. Engraving. Excellent original hand color. Soft crease by centerfold. Very good condition. French text on verso.
A striking map of Spain from a series of wonderfully decorative maps by Willem (Guilielmus) Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), the progenitor of the famous Blaeu cartographic firm of Amsterdam. Blaeu studied astronomy and sciences with Tycho Brahe, and in 1599 established a globe and instrument making business which soon expanded to include cartographic and geographic publishing. This firm was to go on to become the largest and most important cartographic publishing firms in the world, run by his sons Cornelis (until his death in 1642) and Joan. The maps issued by the Blaeu firm are known for their fine craftsmanship and design, and have been called "the highest expression of Dutch cartographical art." This map, with its excellent original color and clear and precise detail is a premier example of the Blaeu output. Each region of Spain is outlined with a contrasting pastel shade and the major cities are illustrated with city vignettes colored red. Two decorative cartouches and the Spanish royal crest, a sea monster, and two sailing ships add to the wonderful decorative appeal of this excellent map. $850
Girolamo Porro after Giovanni Magini. "Germania." Cologne: Peter Keschedt, 1597. From Giovanni Magini's Geographiae Universaetum Tum Veteris Tum Novae. 5 x 6 5/8. Engraving. Full margins. Very good condition.
Girolamo Porro's modern rendition of Germany, issued in Giovanni Magini's translation of Ptolemy's Geography. Rivers and towns, appear with a good degree of accuracy. The decorative features of the map include bold calligraphy and illustrated mountains, cities and forests. A nice early map of Germany from the end of the sixteenth century. $175
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Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) ranks as one of the greatest cartographers in history, not only for the extremely fine maps he produced, but also for the innovations which he introduced into cartographic science. Until the end of the sixteenth century, Ptolemy's concept of depicting sections of the world in trapezoidal configurations, like gores from a globe, had predominated. Mercator, however, stated that small sections of the earth were not significantly distorted toward the poles if longitude lines were represented as parallel by squares or rectangles. The development of the "Mercator projection," which became the established convention, was particularly important for the improvements it allowed in navigational methods. Jodocus Hondius (1563-1611), who shared a vision similar to Mercator's, took up Mercator's ambitious project after the latter's death, purchasing Mercator's plates in 1604 and publishing a series of editions of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas, beginning in 1606. This series of constantly updated atlases reflected Hondius' continued pursuit of geographical knowledge and craftsmanship in order to produce a superior work. This series of maps are superb, with bright original hand-coloring.
Melchior Tavernier was a member of a large family involved in the publishing trade in Paris in the early years of the seventeenth century, and was himself an engraver and publisher "ordinaire du Roy." He is best known for his publication of this map of showing the post roads of France in the early seventeenth century. Copied many times for the rest of the century, this map graphically depicts the network of post roads throughout the country. Each postal stop is indicated and the routes are highlighted in yellow. The decorative features are also impressive, with a coat of arms in the upper right corner, and flanking baroque cartouches in the bottom corners. The title cartouche, on the left, is interesting in that the oval left for a dedication was never filled in. $525
Isaac Massa. "Russiae volgo Moscovia dictae. Partes Septentrionalis et Orientalis. Auctore Isaaco Massa." Amsterdam: Joan Blaeu, 1642-43. 16 1/2 x 21 1/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Very good condition. Dutch on verso.
A nice example of Joan Blaeu's map of Moscovy, that is northern and eastern Russia. Considerable trade in Russia in the period came down the Dvina River from Archangel on the White Sea and this map shows all the small towns along that river. Other towns, rivers, lakes and other topography is indicated. Small vignettes of bears and elk populate the lands and two Russian inhabitants and fauna add decorative appeal to the cartouche for the scales of miles in the lower right. The title cartouche in the upper left, with pelts shown hanging from it, is flanked by a small cartouche with the imperial two-headed eagle. A nice map of the period. $575
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William Blaeu. "Lutzenburg Ducatus." Amsterdam: Willem & Joan Blaeu. 1643-50. 15 x 21. Original hand color. Very good condition. French text on verso.
Blaeu's monumental Nouvel Atlas came to include maps of every nation in Europe, as well as smaller regions. These maps were made with great care, both in terms of geographic content, but in the quality of the production. This map of Luxenbourg is beautifully engraved, printed and colored. $750
Go to page with Blaeu regional maps of the Low Countries.
Willem Blaeu. "Le Gouvernement de l'Isle de France Par Damien de Templeux Escuyes Sr. du Frestoy." Amsterdam: Willem & Joan Blaeu. 1643-50. 15 x 21. Excellent original hand color. Some light stains in bottom margin. Short separation at bottom of centerfold. Overall, very good condition. French text on verso.
Another attractive map by Blaeu. It shows the heart of France, centering on Paris. A region immortalized by painters like Corot, Pissarro, and Monet. Four decorative cartouches add delightful flourishes to this excellent map. $375
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Willem Blaeu after Juris Carolus. "Tabula Islandiae." Amsterdam: Joan Blaeu, 1672+. 15 x 19 1/2. Engraving. Full original hand color. Wide margins. Very good condition. Spanish text on verso. Koeman: 1250:2:2.
A fascinating and wonderfully decorative map of Iceland, made by Willem Blaeu based on the work of Juris Carolus, a Dutch traveler who probably drew his map in the 1620s. Carolus based his rendering on Iceland Bishop Gudbrandur Thorlaksson's map drawn originally in the late sixteenth century. Carolus updated his map and it remained the standard map of Iceland for much of the seventeenth century. Versions were issued by several publishers and this example, by Blaeu, is probably the most desirable of them all. $1,400
Maps of Europe by Frederick de Wit. Amsterdam: F. de Wit, ca. 1680. Engravings. Original hand color. Very good condition, except as noted.
Frederick de Wit followed in the footsteps of the earlier Dutch cartographic publishers Jansson and Blaeu, and like them, he issued maps known for their beautiful engraving and hand coloring. These maps are fine examples of his work, with copious and precise engraving, lovely original hand color, and elaborate and attractive title cartouches.
A strong, highly detailed map of Austria by the Geographer to the French King, Jean Baptiste Nolin. The Danube River runs straight across the center of this map, from Passau to Bratislava. The detail of its tributaries, the towns and cities, political divisions, topography, and so forth are very impressive. $575
Tobias Conrad Lotter. "Transylvaniae, Moldaviae, Walachiae, Bulgariae nova et accurata Delieneato." 19 1/4 x 22 3/4. Augsburg: T.C. Lotter, ca. 1760. Engraving by Lotter. Original hand color. Very good condition.
A boldly colorful map of Eastern Europe by Tobias Lotter, a prolific German cartographer. The cartographic information is shown in an almost naive manner along with strong coloring typical of Lotter's work. The rococo title cartouche is also typically German in style. Here, three figures are in traditional, regional dress are shown. $350
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