Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases and Globes for Sale at Auction

This handsome map of the Canadian Maritimes appeared in Blaeu's monument masterwork, the Atlas Maior. It is the only map to focus soley on Canada from this atlas. The cartography is based on Samuel de Champlain's great map of 1632 augmented with place names from De Laet and Jansson. Blaeu's version shows Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador and the Davis and Hudson Straits as well as the southern tip of Greenland. The elaborate title cartouches symbolize the importance of the Grand Banks fisheries. Only five editions of the Atlas Maior, containing this map, were published prior to the fire that destroyed the Blaeu printing house in 1672. Thus the map is now quite scarce. Dutch text on verso.

Fine impression and original coloring. A slight amount of toning or surface soiling, and some mild creasing along centerfold, still very good. Wide, original margins.


Ref: Burden #371, Goss (Blaeu) p. 158; Kershaw #150; Van der Krogt (Atlantes) 9130:2.