Lot 94
  • 94

Blaeu, Joan

Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description

  • Asiae descriptio novissima. Amsterdam: Joan Blaeu, [1659]
  • Paper
Large wall map of the continent of Asia in 6 engraved map-sheets, 3 panels of letterpress descriptive text in Latin, Dutch and French with imprint of Blaeu in the 3 languages, inset map of the discoveries of Maarten Gerritsz. Vries, contemporary hand-colour, backed on original linen, original decorated rollers with tassels, total dimensions 117 x 155cm., some damage with loss of engraved area and text

Provenance

Private residence, central Italy, since at least the late nineteenth-century, when first recorded

Literature

Recorded examples: Berlin Deutsche Staatsbibliothek, Atlas des Grossen Kurfürsten (Atlas of the Great Elector), XXVII; London British Library, Klencke Atlas, with the text by Jodocus Hondius III; Rostock Universitätsbibliothek, Rostock-Atlas, with the text by Jodocus Hondius III

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

A highly important delineation of Asia, being a summation of the best contemporary Dutch knowledge of the region, assembled from the many voyages of trade and discovery sent out by the Dutch East India Company.

An important insertion is the greatly improved depiction of China taken from Martinus Martini's atlas of China, published by Blaeu in 1654; the side panel of text refers to this atlas.

The map is of the greatest rarity, complete with the three side panels of descriptive text. It is particularly important as having the text bearing Blaeu's imprint, so the whole entity emanates from the Blaeu workshop, and is possibly one of two known surviving copies in this state.

The example of the wall-map in the Klencke Atlas has the text with the imprint of Jodocus Hondius III (b. 1622), grandson of Jodocus Sr., a little-known printer, active in Amsterdam in the 1650s, so assembled for sale in a rival workshop, and presumably slightly later.

We have been unable to locate another example of this map appearing at auction or in dealers' catalogues.