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Eastern Europe
171. Walachia, Servia, Bulga, Ria, Romania
Copper engraved with original hand colouring
Blaeu, Willem Janszoon
Amstersdam c.1635
380 x 500 mm
unmounted
Dutch text on verso. Blaeu and Mercators name in the
plate.
From Atlas Novus.
Shows Walachia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania in
Southeast Europe. In the left upper corner is a allegoric
title cartouche feauturing weapons used in the Turkish
war.
The Blaeu family were one of the most famous
publishers of maps, globes and atlases during the 16th
century. Cartographers, globe makers and booksellers
the Blaeu’s business flourished in Amsterdam for over
40 years, until a fire destroyed their premises in 1672
and loosing all plates, prints and stock and effectively
ruined the firm.
Willem Blaeu founded the business in 1596 as a globe
and instrument makers soon expanding into maps
topography and sea charts. Atlas Novus was Willems
great work, a major atlas intended to include the most
up-to-date maps of the entire world. He issued the first
two volumes in 1635 but died in 1638 before the atlas
was completed. The running of the business past on to
his sons Johannes and Cornelius. After the death of
Cornelis in 1644, Johannes (Joan) continued the
business alone and established his own reputation as a
great mapmaker. Joan completed his father grand
project in 1655 with the sixth and final volume of the
Atlas Novus.
172. Bulgaria et Romania Divisa In Singulares
Sangiacatus [...]
Copper engraved with original outline colouring
Gerard & Leonard Valk
Amseterdam, c.1710
594 x 490 mm
unmounted
Gerald Valk (1652 -1726) was a Dutch publisher, globe
maker, art seller and engraver. He trained under
Abraham Bloteling, later becoming his assistant. The
pair moved to London in 1672 where Valk worked with
David Loggan and Christopher Browne. Gerard married
Maria, Bloteling’s daughter, and in 1675 their son,
Leonard, was born.
Father and son were best known as globe makers but
they also worked together on maps and published
theoretical works related to anstronomy and globes.
Leonard married Maria Schenk, his cousin, and worked
closely with his brother in law, Petrus Schenk II dealing
in prints and maps. After Gerards death the business
continued under Leonard until his death in 1746.
[27740]
£300
Condition: Repaired tear to bottom of centre fold.
Small stain to right of map otherwise a fine clean
impression.
[27739]
£350