Antique Maps by Willem Janszoon Blaeu (*1571 - †1638)

Willem Janszoon Blaeu was born 1571 in Alkmaar. He was trained from 1594 to 1596 by the famous danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. 1599 he went to Amsterdam and founded a business as globe maker. Later he started producing map and sea charts, including his first world map in 1605. In 1633 he was appointed Hydrographer for the Dutch East India Company (VOC). His most famous work was the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum sive Atlas Novus of 1635, which was published until 1655 in total six volumes. After Blaeu's death in 1638 his sons Joan and Cornelis continued the business and finished the Atlas Novus and started an even larger work, the Atlas Maior, which reached 12 volumes. In 1672 a fire destroyed the printing house and most of the printing plates. Joan Blaeu died the following year, leaving the business to his three sons Willem (1635-1701), Pieter (1637-1706) and Joan II (1650-1712). While the business began to decline in the hands of his sons, the dominance of the Blaeu publishing house finally ended in 1703 when the V.O.C. stopped publishing maps bearing the Blaeu family name. Some of the surviving plates were bought by F. de Wit and Schenk & Valk.

Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Partis Primae pars altera.
Willem Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1633
Title page of the Netherlands section from the Latin edition of Blaeu's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum , early edition published 1633 in Amsterdam. Architectual facade. Old coloured.
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Partis Primae pars altera.
1633 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12723
Blaeu's title page for Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Printed in Amsterdam in 1633.

490,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Corsica
W. J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1634
First state of Blaeu's map of Corsica, published 1634 in the German edition of Atlas Novus . State in which map itself has no separate title, only letterpress title above. Later editions have...
Corsica
1634 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
11438
Coloured map of Corse, Corsica. Printed in Amsterdam by W. J. Blaeu in 1634.

400,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: China Veteribus Sinarum Regio nunc Incolis Tame dicta
J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1634
Blaeu's first Map of China.Old coloured map of China by Willem Blaeu. China is outlined in green and bounded by the Great Wall in the north. Korea is still depicted as an island. The...
China Veteribus Sinarum Regio nunc Incolis Tame dicta
1634 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
11508
Old coloured map of China. Printed in Amsterdam by J. Blaeu in 1634.

2 000,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Turcicum Imperium
J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1635
Beautiful old coloured map of the Turkish Empire by Willem Blaeu. Very decorative map of the Ottoman Empire issued during the first half of the 17th Century. The beautiful title cartouche shows...
Turcicum Imperium
1635 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
11509
Old coloured map of the Ottoman Empire. Printed in Amsterdam by J. Blaeu in 1635.

1 200,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Madrid [El Escorial]
W. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1635
Woodcut view of the El Escorial by W. Blaeu. Shows the palace and monastery complex Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the northwest of Madrid. From Cosmographiae Generalis by Paulus...
Madrid [El Escorial]
1635 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12630
Antique woodcut town view of El Escorial, Madrid. Printed in Amsterdam by W. Blaeu in 1635.

90,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: P. Merulae Cosmographiae Partis II ... Europa & speciatim Hispania describitur.
W. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1635
Titlepage of Cosmographiae Generalis by Paulus Merula. With a small woodcut of a terrestrial and celestial globe on a beam balance. Printed 1635 by Willem Blaeu in Amsterdam.
P. Merulae Cosmographiae Partis II ... Europa & speciatim Hispania...
1635 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12636
Woodcut of a title page. Printed in Amsterdam by W. Blaeu in 1635.

35,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Natolia, quae olim Asia Minor.
Willem & Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1640-43
Old coloured antique map of Asia Minor with Turkey and Cyprus by Willem Blaeu. With Constantinople (Istanbul), Smyrna (Izmir) and Antioch. Decorated with a beautiful title cartouche, sea monsters...
Natolia, quae olim Asia Minor.
1640 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12035
Old coloured map of Turkey. Printed in Amsterdam by Willem & Joan Blaeu in 1640.

490,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Novus Atlas, das ist Welt-beschreibung mit schönen newen aussfuehrlichen Land-Taffeln in Kupfer...
Johannes & Cornelius Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1642
Title page of the Netherlands section from the German edition of Blaeu's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum , published 1642 in Amsterdam. Architectual facade. Old coloured, fully high-lighted with gold leaf.
Novus Atlas, das ist Welt-beschreibung mit schönen newen aussfuehrlichen...
1642 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12700
Blaeu's title page for Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Printed in Amsterdam in 1642.

390,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Tabula Magellanica, qua Tierrae del fuego cum celeberrimis fretis a F. Magellano et I. Le Maire...
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1643-50
Blaeu's splendid map of Tierra de Fuego with the Strait of Magellan.Old coloured sea chart of Tierra de Fuego with the Strait of Magellan and Le Maire Strait by Willem Blaeu. From the French...
Tabula Magellanica, qua Tierrae del fuego cum celeberrimis fretis a F....
1643 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
11765
Old coloured sea chart of the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego. Printed in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1643.

1 250,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Ceretica sive Cardiganensis comitatus
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, after 1645
Antique map of Ceredigion by Joan Blaeu. Shows the historic county of Cardiganshire / Ceredigion in the west of Wales. Decorated with two cartouches, several coats of arms, sailing ships and two...
Ceretica sive Cardiganensis comitatus
1645 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12651
Old coloured map of Ceredigion, Cardiganshire. Printed in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1645.

350,00 €
Details
Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Partis Primae pars altera.
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645
Title page of the Netherlands section from the Latin edition of Blaeu's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum , published 1645 in Amsterdam. Architectual facade. Old coloured.
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Partis Primae pars altera.
1645 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12722
Blaeu's title page for Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Printed in Amsterdam in 1645.

420,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Rutlandia Comitatus. Rutlandshire.
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1658-62
Antique map of Rutland by Joan Blaeu. Decorated with two cartouches and several coats of arms. First published in Blaeu's Atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1645. This example was curiously printed...
Rutlandia Comitatus. Rutlandshire.
1658 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12051
Old coloured map of Rutland, England. Printed in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1658.

350,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Namurcum comitatus Auctore Iohann Surhonio
Amsterdam, circa 1660
Old coloured copper engraved map of the central part of Belgium by J. Blaeu. Showing the regions around Namur and Dinant. Cartouche with coats of arms and cherubs, unusual compass rose flanked by a...
Namurcum comitatus Auctore Iohann Surhonio
1660 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10413
Old coloured map of Namur. Printed in Amsterdam circa 1660.

160,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Praefecturae de Paraiba, et Rio Grande
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1662
Impressive and coveted map of the coastline in the north-east of Brazil. The map was published for the first time by J. Blaeu in Rerum per octennium in Brasilia by Caspar Barlaeus in 1647 and...
Praefecturae de Paraiba, et Rio Grande
1662 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
11769
Old coloured map of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Brazil. Printed in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1662.

1 400,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Das Wiflispurgergow. Gerardo Mercatore Auctore.
Amsterdam, 1662
Engraved map of Western Switzerland by Willem Janszoon Blaeu. The map shows the Romandie with the cantons of Vaud and Friborg, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in the south, Lake Thun (Thunersee) in the...
Das Wiflispurgergow. Gerardo Mercatore Auctore.
1662 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
11774
Old coloured map of the Romandie, Fribourg, Vaud, Lake Geneve. Printed in Amsterdam in the year 1662.

350,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Lusatia Superior Authore Barthol. Sculteto Gorlitio.
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1663
Antique map of Upper Lusatia by Joan Blaeu. Showing the east of Saxony with Hoyerswerda, Bautzen, Zittau and Görlitz. Decorated with two cartouches and coat of arms. First published in Blaeu's...
Lusatia Superior Authore Barthol. Sculteto Gorlitio.
1663 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12040
Old coloured map of Upper Lusatia, Saxony. Printed in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1663.

250,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Sarnia Insula, vulgo Garnsey: et Insula Caesarae, vernacule Jarsey
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1663-67
Antique map of the Channel Islands by Joan Blaeu. Shows the islands of Guernsey and Jersey in the English Channel. Decorated with two magnificent cartouches, a coat of arms and several sailing...
Sarnia Insula, vulgo Garnsey: et Insula Caesarae, vernacule Jarsey
1663 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12475
Old coloured map of Jersey, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Printed in Amsterdam by Joan Blaeu in 1663.

590,00 €
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Celeberrimi Fluvii Albis nova delineatio. Auctore Christiano Mollero.
J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1628 [circa 1640]
Very decorative map of the Elbe between Hamburg and the North Sea by W. Blaeu. Showing the Lower Elbe from Geesthacht to the mouth of the Elbe into the North Sea. The fairway is marked with buoys....
Celeberrimi Fluvii Albis nova delineatio. Auctore Christiano Mollero.
1628 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
12669
Coloured map of the course of the Elbe River. Printed in Amsterdam by J. Blaeu 1628 [circa 1640].
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Germaniae Veteris typus
Amsterdam, circa 1630
Attractive map of the Ancient Germany after Abraham Ortelius by Blaeu. From a Latin edition of "Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive, Atlas novus".
Germaniae Veteris typus
1630 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10107
Antique map of Germany. Printed in Amsterdam circa 1630.
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Paraguay, o Prov. de Rio de la Plata cum regionibus adiacentibus Tucuman et S.ta Cruz de la Sierra
1630
Attractive map of Paraguay. Wtih 2 cartouche and a seamonster.
Paraguay, o Prov. de Rio de la Plata cum regionibus adiacentibus Tucuman...
1630 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10052
Antique map of Paraguay. Printed in the year 1630.
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Germaniae Veteris typus
Amsterdam, circa 1630
Attractive map of the Ancient Germany after Abraham Ortelius by Blaeu. From a French edition of "Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive, Atlas novus".
Germaniae Veteris typus
1630 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10108
Antique map of Germany. Printed in Amsterdam circa 1630.
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Moravia Marchionatus Auctore I.A. Comenio.
Amsterdam, circa 1630
Attractive cooper engraved map in original old colour from Moravia in Czechia by W. J. Blaeu after Comenio. With two beautiful coloured cartouches, French text on verso.
Moravia Marchionatus Auctore I.A. Comenio.
1630 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10455
Old coloured map of Moravia. Printed in Amsterdam circa 1630.
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Germaniae Veteris typus
Amsterdam, circa 1630
Attractive map of the Ancient Germany after Abraham Ortelius by J. Blaeu. From a German edition of "Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive, Atlas novus".
Germaniae Veteris typus
1630 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10652
Antique map of Germany. Printed in Amsterdam circa 1630.
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Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Paderbornensis Episcopatus Descriptio Nova
G. Blaeu, Amsterdam, circa 1630
Decorative engraved map of the area around Paderborn by G. Blaeu. With two cartouches and a mileage scale. Showing River Rhine between Koblenz and Wesel. Centred on the town of Paderborn. Without...
Paderbornensis Episcopatus Descriptio Nova
1630 - Willem Janszoon Blaeu
10961
Antique map of Paderborn, North Rhein-Westphalia. Printed in Amsterdam by G. Blaeu circa 1630.
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