Lot 12600: Bleau - 1631 - Map of North & South America; Americae nova Tabula

This is one of the most sought-after and decorative maps of North and South America. It is entitled Americae nova Tabula and completed by Willem Janszoon Blaeu. It was published in Amsterdam in 1631. This is the third state of the plate with the imprint changed to Auct: Guiljelmo Blaeuw.

The map features the most up to date topographical knowledge at the time with highly decorative borders. The coastal outlines generally follow Ortelius and Wytfliet with nomenclature from a variety of explorers and colonists. It does show some cartographic myths including the fictional islands of Frisland and Brasil and the famous non-existent city of gold, El Dorado. The upper border shows nine vignette views of the major cities on the continent including Havana, St. Domingo, Cartegena, Mexico City, Cusco, Potosi, I. la Mocha in Chile, Rio de Janeiro and Olinda in Brazil. Ten pairs of figures line the sides illustrating the culture of the natives after John White (Virginia), Hans Staden (Brazil) and other early explorer's accounts.

Willem Blaeu founded the famous Blaeu cartographic firm in Amsterdam. He studied astronomy and science under Tycho Brahe. He established a globe and instrument making business in 1599 which soon expanded into cartography publishing. It became one of the most important publishing firms in the world that was also later run by his sons Cornelis and Joan. Their maps are noted for their fine engraving process, coloring, and design and are often referred to as "thehighest expression of Dutch cartographical art."

Further information on discerning the states of this map: "In the same year the results of Jacob le Maire and Willem Cornelisz Schouten's voyage around Cape Horn became known. They showed that Tierra del Fuego was an island and not connected to the unknown southern continent. Owing to law suits that were filed between the Australian Company and the Dutch East India Company, Blaeu was legally barred from incorporating this new information on his maps and globes in July 1617. This restriction was not lifted until August of the following year. Blaeu immediately updated this work to include Fretum le Maire and State landt. He also removed the coastline of TERRA AUSTRALIS INCOGNITA east of the title cartouche, mysteriously leaving the name behind. Therefore state 1 of the plate, having a life of at most about eighteen months, is extremely rare. Indeed, as late as 1955 only one example was known. A third state appeared with a revision changing the name to Blaeu in 1621. Keuning wrote in detail about this period of time and the various forms in which we find his name. The change was as a result of the competition of Jan Jansz and the obvious similarities of their names.This state was to appear through to 1630 without text on the reverse. It also appeared in this form in the Atlantis Appendix. This was Blaeu's first attempt at a world atlas, largely instigated by his purchase in 1629 of a number of Jodocus Hondius' plates, and in the following years he would experiment with various formats." (Burden)

State 3 is considered the earliest obtainable state of this map presently.

State 1: No Le Maire Strait. Auct: Guiiljel: Janssonio in cartouche. (1617)
State 2: New islands in the South Pacific. Le Maire Strait added. Tierra del Fuego now shown as an island. (1618)
State 3: Name revised to Guiljelmo: Blaeuw (1621)
State 4: New engraved areas in the sea, most notably in the square above the word "Capricorn" (Tropicus Capricorn), to the left of the sailing ship. (1642)
State 5: Engraved areas extended in state 5 now have a rough cross hatching and lack the wavy quality of earlier states. (1645)

~ 22 1/4" by 17 1/4"

Originally Hand-colored Engraving

1631

The work is very good to excellent condition overall. The margin is very narrow at the left with some new margin added for the purpose of matting or framing. There may be a few imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Americae nova Tabula