Book Description
This book presents a carefully curated selection from Atlas Maior, the monumental world atlas completed in 1665 by the 17th-century master cartographer Joan Blaeu. Bringing together the maps depicting England, Ireland, and Scotland, it guides readers to the pinnacle of Baroque cartographic art while offering insight into the geographical imagination and political landscape of the early modern British Isles.
Widely regarded as one of the most exquisite and ambitious Baroque world atlases ever produced, Atlas Maior was originally published as an eleven-volume Latin edition containing 594 maps, covering the Arctic, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It was among the most comprehensive and grandly produced atlases of the 17th century. The creation of this masterpiece was closely tied to the intense rivalry within the Dutch cartographic world: in competing with mapmaker Joanes Janssonius, Blaeu produced an unprecedented atlas that secured his unassailable position in the history of cartography.
This volume includes 58 maps of England and 55 maps of Scotland and Ireland, meticulously depicting the administrative divisions, urban networks, topography, and coastlines of the British Isles in the 17th century. These maps are not merely geographical records; they also reflect the political power structures, territorial governance, and worldviews of their time.
The present edition is reproduced from the Austrian National Library (Vienna)’s treasured copy, which features hand colouring and gold-heightened details. Through high-quality reproduction, the book faithfully preserves the delicate line work, rich colour layers, and ornate embellishments of the original maps, ensuring the highest possible visual and historical quality.
In addition to the maps themselves, the volume includes original quotations by Blaeu relating to the individual maps, accompanied by newly written scholarly commentary by leading cartography historian Peter van der Krogt. His texts provide in-depth explanations of the historical background, cultural context, and symbolic meanings embedded in the maps, introducing readers to the intellectual world of early modern cartography. The text is presented in English, French, and German, combining academic depth with international accessibility.
More than a superb facsimile of historical maps, this book offers an essential lens through which to understand the formation of early modern states in the British Isles, evolving notions of territory, and the development of cartographic art. It is especially suited to readers in art history, historical geography, and cultural studies, as well as collectors and enthusiasts of antique maps and fine bookmaking.
Details
Authors: Peter van der Krogt, Joan Blaeu
Publisher: TASCHEN
Format: Hardcover
Dimensions: 38 × 26 cm
Pages: 416
