c1645 Outstanding Antique Map BRITANNIA ANGLO SAXONUM Johannes Blaeu HEPTARCHY

About this Item

1645 Outstanding Antique Map BRITANNIA ANGLO SAXONUM Johannes Blaeu HEPTARCHY c1645 BRITANNIA PROUT DIVISA SUIT TEMPORIBUS ANGLO SAXONUM. A stunning and extremely rare finely engraved hand coloured 17th Century Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy map originally published in Johannes Blaeu's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Sive Atlas Novus with French Text on verso. Early hand colouring. Overall size approx 59cm x 51cm. Generally regarded as one of the finest maps produced in the 17th Century, Blaeu's Heptarchy depicts Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period when England wad divided into seven different Kingdoms (Kent, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria). The elaborate panels, which flank the map on either side, are very much in the style of the 17th Century Ditch miniature painting. The left panel depicts the founders of each Kingdom whereas the right shows the moment when Christianity was adopted; interestingly, in the case of East Anglia and Mercia, this was done under duress!Willem Blaeu (1571-1638) founded the family business in 1596. It initially functioned as a globe and instrument makers, but soon expanded into maps, topography and sea charts. The acquisition of thirty-eight copper plates from the estate of Jodocus Hondius in 162 together with twenty-two of his own maps enabled Blaeu to produce his first atlas, the Atlas Appendix in 1630. The Atlas Novus was Willems great work; a major work which intended to include the most up-to-date maps of the entire world. He issued the first two volumes in 1635, but died in 1638 before the atlas was completed. The running of the business was passed on to his sons Johannes (c. 1596-1673) and Cornelius, in addition to the role of the official cartographer of the East India Company. After the death of Cornelius in 1644, Johannes continued the business alone and established his own reputation as a great mapmaker. Johannes completed his fathers grand project, culminating in 1658 in the production of the famous Atlas Major, regarded as one of the greatest achievements in the history of cartography. CONDITIONOverall in excellent condition with central fold as issued. There has been some re-enforcement work on the reverse side where there had been some paper surface splits, but is entirely invisible from the front side.

Seller Inventory # 233577919287_0f8563cb-9fb3

Bibliographic Details

• Title: c1645 Outstanding Antique Map BRITANNIA ANGLO SAXONUM Johannes Blaeu HEPTARCHY
• Binding: No Binding
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket