South Africa.

Bleau, Willem and Johannes. L'Ethiopie Inferieure. "Æthiopia Inferior vel Exterior. Partes magis Septentrionalis, quæ hic desiderantur, vide tabula Æthipiæ Superioris." Amsterdam: Jean Blaeu, 1640
Copper engraved map of South Africa from Blaeu's " Le Theatre du Monde ou Nouvel Atlas "Vol 2 . Black & white; French text to verso
Decorative title cartouche; native Africans holding a buffalo skin, monkeys and turtles at their feet; elephants to Mozambique, and buffalos and monkeys to interior; large ships and turtle to seas. Good impression;slight creasing at centre fold

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.
Koeman I Bl 17. F. [205];Van der Krogt II, p.150 and 2:212.2 390 by 532mm (15¼ by 21 inches).   ref: 2575  €500