Blaeu, Joannes

FIRST COMPLETE EDITION, 11 volumes, folio (520 x 340mm.), engraved allegorical frontispiece to volume 1, 9 engraved architectural or armorial frontispieces with letter-press text labels, 12 printed titles with engraved vignettes and 13 divisional half-titles, 594 engraved maps, plans, views, and plates, mostly double-page (some folding, full-page or within text), including 9 plates of Tycho Brahe's astronomical observatory (one with his portrait) in volume one, views of Stonehenge and Avebury in volume 5, 7 plates of the Escorial in volume 9, coloured throughout in a contemporary hand (engraved titles heightened in gold), index leaf at the end of each volume, contemporary vellum, brightly gilt and large central arabesques, all original green ties present, some occasional light browning to text or maps

Fuerstlich Auerspergsche Fideicommisbibliothek zu Laybach, bookplate

Van der Krogt 601; Koeman I, 56

A PARTICULARLY FINE COPY OF THE MOST FAMOUS ATLAS IN THE HISTORY OF PRINTED MAPS. SINCE ITS PUBLICATION THE BLAEU ATLAS MAJOR REMAINS, WITH EVERY JUSTIFICATION, THE MOST MAGNIFICENT WORK OF ITS KIND EVER PRODUCED. The work covered the known world, with particular emphasis on Europe, but with important volumes devoted to America and another to China.

"The contents of this unprecedented atlas illustrate the high standards of contemporary cartography and geographical knowledge, and its presentation bears witness to the superb craftsmanship of engraver, printer, binder and papermaker... The costly atlas was in fact exclusively designed for those members of the patriciate who could command both the material and intellectual resources that were needed to buy it and appreciate it" (Koeman II, pp.1-3).

Some 300 sets are believed to have been published, many of which were presented throughout Europe as a tangible symbol of the Republic of the United Netherlands. 

This copy comprises:

Volume I. World, Europe and Scandinavia. 1662, 61 maps and plates

Volume II. Northern and Eastern Europe. 1662, 39 maps and plates

Volume III. Germany. 1662, 96 maps

Volume IV. Low Countries. 1662, 63 maps

Volume V. England and Wales. 1662, 58 maps

Volume VI. Scotland and Ireland. 1662, 55 maps

Volume VII. France and Switzerland. 1662, 70 maps

Volume VIII. Italy. 1662, 60 maps

Volume IX. Part 1. Spain and Portugal. Part 2. Africa. 41 (28 + 13), 1662

Volume X. Asia. 1662, 28 maps

Volume XI. America. 1662 23 maps

See also illustration on cover of catalogue and page [2].