Blaeu´s famous world map c. 1640

FAMOUS WORLD MAP. BLAEU, G. Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula auct. Guiljelmo Blaeuw. Amsterdam, no date (c. 1640-43).

Hand-coloured (later colour) engraved world map, surrounded with panels with carte-a-figures: allegorical representations of the sun, the moon, the five known planets, the four classical elements, the four seasons and seven ancient wonders (the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus by the Harbor at Rhodes, the Pyramids, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus at Cairo, the Temple of Diana, the Statue of Jupiter and the Lighthouse at Alexandria), small polar projections in lower corners. The map is richly decorated with cartouches, sea battles, monsters and compass roses. Engraved by Josua van den Ende.
About 410x545 mm. Finely laid down on japan-paper, small split in lower part of centrefold, repair to upper part of centrefold, some dampstaining to upper margin. German edition with text on verso in two columns. Framed.

Shirley #255. From one of the German editions from the atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum published in 1642-43. The map was first issued in 1606 and this is the fourth state with change of name "auct: "Guiljelmo Blaeuw", the date omitted from the lower cartouch on the right and "Tierra del Fuego" shown as an island. Josua van Ende engraved the map, reducing it from Blaeu´s 1605 wall map for inclusion in atlases.
Decorative and famous world map.

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