Catalog Archive
Auction 177, Lot 46

"Americae Nova Tabula", Blaeu, Willem

Subject: Western Hemisphere - America

Period: 1633 (published)

Publication: Warhafftige Beschreibung aller denckwurdigsten Geschichten

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.3 x 14.1 inches
46.5 x 35.8 cm
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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 an excellent 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: B

A nice impression with a fleur-de-lis coat of arms watermark, issued folding, now pressed, with light soiling. Professionally remargined at right and left with a portion of border at left and a small amount of neatline at right replaced in facsimile. There are additional archival repairs to short centerfold separations at top and bottom, a small hole above the title cartouche, and two tears that enter less than 1" into image at left.

Estimate: $1,800 - $2,100

Sold for: $1,100

Closed on 4/29/2020

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