Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was a prominent Dutch geographer and publisher. Born the son of a herring merchant, Blaeu chose not fish but mathematics and astronomy for his focus. He studied with the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, with whom he honed his instrument and globe making skills. Blaeu set up shop in Amsterdam, where he sold instruments and globes, published maps, and edited the works of intellectuals like Descartes and Hugo Grotius. In 1635, he released his atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive, Atlas novus.
Willem died in 1638. He had two sons, Cornelis (1610-1648) and Joan (1596-1673). Joan trained as a lawyer, but joined his father’s business rather than practice. After his father’s death, the brothers took over their father’s shop and Joan took on his work as hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company. Later in life, Joan would modify and greatly expand his father’s Atlas novus, eventually releasing his masterpiece, the Atlas maior, between 1662 and 1672.
Fine example of Blaeu's map of the lower Elbe River, including Hamburg. The map is oriented with south at the top and divided into two sections, each of which includes an elaborate coat of arms.
A beautiful example of Blaeu's map of East Friesland and the area around Emden and Norden. Large inset map of the mouth of the Amasis River. The map is decorated with a large title cartouche and two large coats of arms, plus elegant border details...
Blaeu's map of Pomerania. Decorative map of the area of Pomerania, in present day eastern Germany and Poland with considerable detail. An elaborate coat of arms of Pomerania is at the top center. A mileage scale, in German and French miles, is at the...
Beautiful example of Willem Janszoon Blaeu's map of the Dukedom of Mecklenburg in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea. Includes the cities of Rostock, Schwerin, Wismar, and Lake Muritz.
Antique engraved map of the Hesse region in Germany by Willem Janszoon Blaeu.
Antique engraved Blaeu map of the Duchies of Julich and Berg on the Rhine River. The city of Cologne is shown. Has the coats of arms of the two cities in the upper right corner.
Fine old color example of Blaeu's map of Marchia and Ravensberg.
Attractive antique engraved map of the area around Nuremberg, Germany, with a nice inset of the city. Published by Blaeu in Amsterdam.
Decorative regional map of the Palatinate of Germany, from the Danube and north, including Nuremberg. Decorative cartouche with coat of arms.
Antique engraved map of southwestern Bavaria, showing Augsburg and Ulm, as well as the Boden See. Shows the mountains of the Alps, local towns and villages, political boundaries, etc.
Detailed map of Oldenburg, publshed by Willem Blaeu. The map also shows Bremen and the Jade Bight.
Old color example of Blaeu's ap of the Duchy of Holstein. Includes 2 large inset maps. Extends to Hamburg, Lubeck, Kiel, etc.
Detailed map of the region of northeastern Germany and Western Poland, showing rivers, towns, woods, mountains, ports, etc. Dresden, Leipzig, Wittenberg, Torgaw, Hall, Glogaw, Crossen, and Meissen shown. Decorative banner cartouche.
Detailed regional map of Thuringia, Germany, with decorative cartouches. Large cities include Erfurd, Gotha, Weimar, Mulhausen, Northausen, Gera and Jena.
Nice example of Blaeu' regional map of Germany, centered on Mansfield and showing the Salsa River from Bernburgh to Rockendorf, and the Helm River, from Berga to Dorndorff.
Nice old color example of Blaeu's map of the Bishopric of Hildesheim, founded by The Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious in 815. The map is split vertically by the Leine River. Larger towns on the map include Hildesheim, Hannover, Northeim,...
