De Wit, Frederik | "The de Wit composite or 'dual-purpose' atlas"

De Wit, Frederik 

Composite atlas.  [Amsterdam: after 1688]

Folio (530 x 315 mm). Engraved allegorical title showing the globe surmounted by the figure of Atlas, printed index listing 152 subjects, 151 of 152 maps called for (lacking 127, "Europa"; 126 given as "Orbis Maritimus," but "Terrarum Orbis"), neat manuscript numeration in the margins; maps with loss, some backed, others with tape and paper repairs, browning and spotting. Full modern red calf, cover and spine gilt-lettered.

(Not subject to return.)

In common with other relatively early de Wit atlases, this copy contains a corpus of maps formerly in the plate-stock of other Amsterdam map publishers such as Mercator, Hondius, Blaeu, and Visscher.

"The de Wit composite or 'dual-purpose' atlas is an early example of an atlas planned at its outset to serve as a land and a sea atlas in one. Koeman lists these works according to the number of maps and by and large this progression gives a fair idea of their development and therefore dates, beginning in the early 1660s. But he acknowledges it is not accurate and often subject to revised opinion. The index is quite unlike any of those listed in Koeman" (Wardington Catalogue).

REFERENCE:

See: Koeman III: Wit 16, calling for 151 plates