Rare Edition of Blaeu's Map of the Americas

"Americae Nova Tabula", Blaeu, Willem

This is a rare edition of Blaeu's great map of the Americas from Emmanuel van Meteren's history of the Netherlands. The surrounding panels were masked during printing so the map would fit the small format. A portion of the vignettes above the map can still be seen. This is one of the few maps of the Americas by this famous Dutch cartographer. It is similar to Blaeu's wall map of 1608 with the additional discoveries of Henry Hudson and Tierra del Fuego with Le Maire Strait. An inset in North America shows Greenland, Iceland, the Davis Strait, and the mythical island of Frislandia. Even without the carte-a-figures panels, it is a fine example of the fine art of decorative cartography with sailing ships and sea monsters filling the oceans and a bold strapwork title cartouche.

References: Burden #189.

Condition: A

A fine impression with attractive color. Remargined at left with a portion of border skillfully replaced in facsimile.