The world & continents from the ‘Atlas Major’

A fine set of five maps from the most expensive book published in the 17th century, an eleven-volume atlas containing 593 hand-coloured maps. For this edition Johannes Blaeu replaced the world map engraved by his father in 1606 and used in Blaeu atlases since 1630 with a new double hemisphere map, the only Blaeu atlas map to show California as an island. The highly decorative borders have two cartographers and allegorical figures of the known planets along the top and the Four Seasons underneath. Shirley writes that 'the engraving and layout and elegance of decoration are of the highest standard. The map is invariably printed on thick paper of quality and often superbly hand coloured'. Each of the continents has lateral borders of native dress and nine city prospects along the top.