Catalog Archive
Auction 186, Lot 80

Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas

"Americae Nova Tabula", Blaeu, Willem

Subject: Western Hemisphere - America

Period: 1662 (published)

Publication: Atlas Maior

Color: Hand Color

Size:
21.7 x 16.3 inches
55.1 x 41.4 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This stunning carte-a-figures map is a superb example of the fine art of decorative cartography and a seventeenth-century European view of the New World. The coastal outlines generally follow Ortelius and Wytfliet with nomenclature from a variety of explorers and colonists. Panels at sides, each with five portraits of the native inhabitants, were taken from John White (Virginia), Hans Staden (Brazil) and other early explorer's accounts. Across the top are nine town plans including Havana, St. Domingo, Cartegena, Mexico City, Cusco, Potosi, I. la Mocha in Chile, Rio de Janeiro and Olinda in Brazil. This is one of the few maps of the Americas by this famous Dutch cartographer. The map itself is similar to Blaeu's wall map of 1608 with the additional discoveries of Henry Hudson in North America, and Tierra del Fuego with Le Maire Strait. This is the fourth state of the plate with the imprint changed to Auct: Guiljelmo Blaeuw and some re-engraving of the sea surrounding the ships and sea monsters. Latin text on verso.

References: Burden #189; Goss (Blaeu) p. 156; Tooley (Amer) p. 297; Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #9000:2.

Condition: B+

Nice example of this beautiful map with old color on a lightly toned sheet with an elephant watermark and a few small spots of foxing. Some separations and tears along the centerfold have been expertly repaired with a sliver of the image in North America skillfully replaced in facsimile.

Estimate: $4,750 - $6,000

Sold for: $3,250

Closed on 2/9/2022

Archived