Atlas Major – America

BLAEU, Joan (1596–1673). America, quae est Geographiae Blauianae pars quinta liberunus volumen undecimum . Amsterdam: Joan Blaeu, 1662. First Latin edition, hand-coloured, of the Americas volume from Blaeu’s great Atlas Major; in publisher's vellum binding. “No doubt the success of Johannes Janssonius with the Novus atlas absolutissimus in eleven volumes, published in 1662, prompted Joan Blaeu to do his very best to outclass his rival. He succeeded indeed, for the Atlas Maior , published in 1662, was ‘the greatest and finest atlas ever published’.” (Koeman I, p. 199). Koeman I, pp. 226–27. Since its publication, the Blaeu Atlas Major has remained, with every justification, the most magnificent work of its kind ever produced. The Atlas Major is the epitome of decades of achievement by the Blaeu family. Published in five languages (Latin, Dutch, French, German and Spanish) from 1662, this comprehensive atlas was, as Koeman observes, a “costly atlas […] exclusively designed for those members of the patriciate who could command both the material and intellectual resources that were needed to buy and appreciate it”. The present set is colored throughout, containing 23 maps depicting North, Central and South America. Folio (562 × 365mm). 23 double-page maps, woodcut device on title-page (title-page mounted with lower corner repaired, maps lightly toned and washed, without first blank, “America” gutters reinforced, thumbprint in margin of “Paraquaria”, small surface tears in “Praefectura de Paraiba, et Rio Grande” gutter, index leaf lower margin extended, occasional light stains and spotting). Publisher's vellum, covers and spine gold-tooled, edges gilt (stains and light marks on covers, ties removed).

Estimate:$30,000

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