Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) / Joan Blaeu (1596-1673)
Les Souverainetez de Sedan et de Raucourt et la prevosté de Doncheri.
and
Descriptio Veromanduorum Auctore Ioanne Suthonio. Gallice Vermandois./ Gouvernement de la Cappelle par P. petit Bourbon.
Amsterdam: Mid 17th Century
Hand-colored engravings
15.25 x 20 inches, average approximate plate mark
19.75 x 24 inches, average approximate overall
$450 each
Blaeu Maps of Regions in France
Amsterdam: Mid 17th C.
Amsterdam: Mid 17th C.
Les Souverainetez de Sedan et de Raucourt |
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Descriptio Veromanduorum |
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To view other works by the Blaeu family of cartographers, including maps and city views, and plates from Joan Blaeu's three town-books of Italy, type "Blaeu" in our search engine.
Two early Dutch maps of towns, cities and regions in France. The title of Les Souverainetez de Sedan translates as "the Sovereignty of Sedan and of Raucourt and the Provostship of Doncheri." The area depicted is Northern France near the border with Belgium, including the Meuse River and the principalities of Sedan and Raucourt, now in the Ardennes department of France. Descriptio Veromanduorum… translates as "Description of Vermandois by Johann Suthonio. Gallic Vermandois./ Government of La Cappelle by P. petit Bourbon," and consists of two maps printed on one sheet, showing regions of France north of Paris and featuring the areas along the Oise River, including La Cappelle, Laon and Guise.
Blaeu's maps from this series show mountains as raised topography, embellished with images of trees in bird’s-eye view clustered in wooded areas. The elaborate baroque cartouches are richly colored, generally incorporating the coat of arms of the region, and some decorated with more coats of arms. Additional cartouches show relative scales. Some maps have symbols identified in keys representing cities, burgs, villages, hamlets, chateaux, and abbeys; some are decorated with illustrations of people of the region. The outline colors vary. Some of the plates incorporate two or more maps on a single sheet.
The Blaeu family of cartographers, founded by Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) in the 1630s, became the largest printer in 17th century Europe and the leading cartographic publishers during the golden age of Dutch map making. After Willem’s death in 1638, the firm continued under the direction of his sons Cornelis (d. 1642) and Joan (1596-1673) until a fire destroyed the business in 1672. Their works covered the range of cosmography, uranography, hydrography, chorogreaphy and topography. Heirs and successors such as Covens & Mortier continued to publish the Blaeu family’s works into the 18th century.
Willem Blaeu was a surveyor, globemaker and publisher. Up to 1617, he signed his work Guilielmus Janssonius or Willems Jans Zoon, sometimes confused with his contemporary Jan Jansson. His later work was signed G. Blaeu. His early works include a globe from 1599, and maps of European countries and a world map in 1604-08. In 1629 he acquired 37 plates of maps from Jodocus Hondius, and built upon this acquisition to create the great series of atlases that followed. The Blaeu family are best known for their magnificent multi-volume world atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, published in various editions and languages from 1635 (first edition by Willem Blaeu), and reissued variously in 17th century. Another significant Blaeu atlas was Atlas Maior (1662), and a major achievement was Joan Blaeu’s 1648 separately issued map of the world composed of 20 sheets, Nova totius Terrarum orbis Tabula.
Condition: Generally very good with only minor overall toning, wear, soft creases. Vertical center fold as issued. Colors bright.
References:
Fleet, Christopher. "Joan Blaeu." Pont Maps Biographies. National Library of Scotland. 2000. http://www.nls.uk/pont/bio/blaeu.html (17 September 2002).
Tooley, R.V. Maps and Map-Makers. 4th Ed. New York: Bonanza Books, 1970. pp. 33-34.