Live auction - Lot 1063
[Atlas - British Isles]
Theatrum orbis terrarum sive Atlas Novus Pars Quarta.
Amsterdam, J. Blaeu, 1645
€ 3.500 / 5.000
Live bidding (Drouot*) Live bidding (Invaluable*)Bidding is closed
Lot description
Large folio: [10 incl. engr. title]-460-[1] pp.; 58 maps (text lvs and maps sl. browned, rather heavily dampstained and occ. moulded in upper part, marg. tear p. 97, hole in maps of Oxfordshire, Suffolk, and in txt lf. p. 385).
Contemp. vellum, gilt decorated spine and covers (spine damaged, used). S.w.a.f.
First edition of Blaeu's Atlas of England, in Latin. Most maps are engraved after the lavishly decorated and highly accurate copperplates by J. Hondius who, between 1605 and 1610, was employed by John Speed to engrave the plates for his "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine" (London, 1611-12), the earliest published atlas of the entire British Isles and a standard reference until the beginning of the 18th century. For the text part J. Blaeu used W. Camden's Britannia (1st ed.: 1586), the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The atlas was added as the 4th vol. to the Theatrum orbis terrarum.
Ref. van der Krogt II [2:301Ha].
Prov. "Bibliotheca ff. Ermit. S.P. Augustini Bruxellis" (Hermits of St. Augustine in Brussels). - Libr. stamp.