239
BLAEU, Willem (1571-1638); TODESCHI, Pietro (17th cent.). [Nova et Acurata Totius Asiae Tabula]. [Bologna: Giuseppe Longhi, c.a. 1673].
Italian print of the map of Asia from the famous series of the four continents first published by Blaeu in 1608 in Amsterdam, the masterpiece of Dutch cartography of the Gouden eeuw. Blaeu was a student of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (Kepler's teacher) from 1594 to 1596 and on his return to Amsterdam he founded the Officina Blaviana, specialising in the production and sale of maps, globes and scientific instruments. He was assisted in the enterprise by the cartographer Hessel Gerritsz (1580-1632) and the engraver Joshua van de Ende. After the first edition in 1608, the four continents were subsequently published in 1612, and in 1624 they were reissued by Hendrik Hondius and in 1655 by Nicholas Visscher. In Italy a version was published in 1646 by Stefano Mozzi Scolari (1598-1650) from which Pietro Todeschi later derived this version.The map of Asia reflects the high interest of the area for Dutch trade and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) of which Willem Blaeu was the official hydrographer. Java and Bali are drawn according to the travel accounts of Willem Lodewijksz (1560-1620), Ceylon and the Maldives derive from Jan Huygen van Linschoten (1563-1611) Japan is mainly based on Ortelius' map of 1595 and New Guinea is depicted in an advanced manner thanks to information from Abel Tasmand's travels of 1642-1644. The map goes so far as to represent the Red Sea to the west and even the Aegean Sea and the southern coast of Italy, the Aral Sea is not present and the Caspian Sea is undefined. The series, which is very scarce, has so far been recorded in this version on the Italian peninsula in 2 complete copies of the 4 continents and side cartouches: at the Italian Geographic Society in Rome and at the Vatican Library. Other copies are at the Library of Congress (2 copies); Harry Ransome Center, UT, Austin; RGS, London; Luneburg Museum, Germany; Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd, Amsterdam-Engraved map, (820 x 1055mm) printed on four leaves (restored in the 20th century, several chippings with integrations in the blank, restorations). The separately printed side and top cartouches depicting peoples' customs and bearing the title are missing. (1)
ESTIMATE € 4,000 - 6,000
LOTS