AW7-019: Johannes Bleau - Circa 1654 Map of Levinia Vice Comitatus the Province of Lennox- Colored Engraving

TITLE: Circa 1654 Map of Levinia Vice Comitatus the Province of Lennox

IMAGE SIZE: 19 1/2" x 23"

COMMENTS: 1654 A large original copper engraved map titled LEVINIA VICE COMITATUS - The Province of LENNOX called the Shyre of Dun-BrittonA very fine example of thisbeautifully designed and engraved map of the area around Dumbarton and southern Loch Lomond. Germantext on verso.Excellent condition with central fold as issued and later hand colouring.Approx 56cmx 65cm with large margins, perfect for mounting and framing.Joan (Johannes) Blaeu (1596-1673) was a Dutch cartographer active in the 17th Century. Joan was the son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu, founder of the Blaeu firm. Like his farther Willem, Johannes was born in Aklmaar, North Holland, He studied law, attaining a doctorate, before moving to Amsterdam to join the family mapmaking business. In 1633, Willem arranged for Johannes to take over Hessel Gerritszs position as the official chartmaker of the Dutch East India Company, although little is known of his work for that organisation, which was by contract and oath secretive. Where other cartographers often fell into financial ruin, the Blaeu form thrived. It was most likely those profits that allowed the firm to publish the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Altlas Novus, their most significant and best known publication. When Willem Blaeu died in 1638, Johannes, along with this Borther Cornelius (1616-1648) took over the management of the Blaeu firm. In 1662, Joan and Cornelius produced a vastly expanded and updated work, theAtlas Novus, whose handful of editions ranged from 9 to 12 volumes. In 1672 the Great Amsterdam Fire destroyed their offices and most of their printing plates. Johannes Blaeu diedthe following year. Johannes Blaeu was survived by his son, also Johanne.