"Europa recens descripta", Blaeu, Willem

This classic map of Europe is done in the carte-de-figures style with vignettes on three sides. The upper frieze has nine bird's-eye views of Amsterdam, Prague, Constantinople, Venice, Rome, Paris, London, Toledo and Lisbon. The side borders contain the costumes of the noblemen and women of ten European nations. The map is embellished with sailing ships, sea monsters, bears and Neptune riding a dolphin and holding his trident. A beautiful map produced at the height of the Golden Age of Dutch mapmaking; it was included in the first volume of Blaeu's magnificent atlas. Latin text on verso.

References: Goss (Blaeu) #4, p.30.

Condition: B+

The map has been professionally restored with some paper replaced at upper center with facsimile of the letter P in Oceanus Septentrionalis. It has also been remargined at top and some tears in the bottom margin are repaired. All the work was skillfully done with the leaf casting method and the map is very presentable.