Venezuela, South America.
Bleau, Willem and Johannes.
Venezuela. "
Venezuela cum parte Australi Novæ Andalusiæ.." Amsterdam: Johannes and Cornelius Blaeu. 1640 [but 1643-1645].
Copper engraved map of Venezuela from the 2nd edition of Blaeu's "
Le Theatre du Monde ou Nouvel Atlas"Vol 2 .'This edition ... is a much more advanced one than the edition of 1638/1640. The text has been reset' (Van der Krogt) Original outline colour; French text to verso.
The map also shows the Windward Islands; the Leeward Antilles : Aruba ,Bonaire & Curaçao; and Trinidad & Tobago; compass rose and two sailing ships in the Pacific Ocean, animals to interior of country. Bright and clean; light toning to edges of blank margins.
Willem Janszoon Blaeu [1571- 1668] had set up the business in Amsterdam 1596 following studies with the famous astonomer Tycho Brahe.
In 1630 Willhem published his first atlas "
Atlas Appendix", having published maritime cartography, books, charts and pilot guides for previous thirty years.
Appointed Hydrographer of the V. O. C. ( United East India Company)in 1633 he died in 1638. leaving the company to his sons Joan and Cornelius
Of Cornelius little is know; his name appearing on in the prefaces of books and atlases only until c1645.
Dr Joan Blaeu [ 1596-1673] who had studied at Leiden took over the management of the business and established its fame. He was also appointed Hydrographer to the V. O. C. ( 1638), but his interests leant more to geography than maritime cartography. His aim was" a full description of heaven, earth and water" ( Koeman) which was unachievable. but his work produced the magnificent "
Atlas Major" and the Town books of the Netherlands and Italy; works unsurpassed in history and modern times.
The "
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum " or "
Atlas Novus" Willem Blaeu's great project enlarging the
"Appendix" was advertised in 1634, was first published in a preliminary edition in 1635. (preface dated 10-3-1634) two volumes.
The final edition comprising again two volumes with 109 & 99 maps respectively with German text also published 1635; an edition with Dutch text, (preface dated 22-4-1635) 104 & 103 maps; French text( preface dated 1-7-1635) 105 & 103 maps; and with Latin text (preface dated "ipsis Aprillis")105 & 102 maps.
Van der Krogt II, p.150 and 2:212.2 ;Koeman:Bl 17: O [52]. 380 by 490mm (15 by 19¼ inches).
ref: 1826
€500