Atlas Maior of 1665 [Hardcover]

Joan Blaeu (Author), Peter Van der Krogt (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2005

"The greatest and finest atlas ever published" The finest and most comprehensive baroque atlas was Johann Blaeu's exceptional Atlas Major, completed in 1662. The original 11-volume Latin edition, containing 593 maps, put Blaeu ahead of his staunch competitor, mapmaker Johannes Janssonius, whose rivalry inspired Blaeu to produce a grandiose edition of the largest and most complete atlas to date. Covering Arctica, Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, Blaeu's Atlas Major was a remarkable achievement and remains to this day one of history's finest examples of mapmaking. This reprint is made from the National Library of Vienna's complete, colored, gold-heightened copy, thus assuring the best possible detail and quality. The book's introduction, by the University of Utrecht's Peter van der Krogt, discusses the historical and cultural context and significance of the atlas; Krogt also provides detailed descriptions of the maps, allowing modern readers to fully appreciate Blaeu's masterwork.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The greatest and finest atlas ever published" Koeman I, BI 56"

About the Author

Peter van der Krogt, the leading expert on Dutch atlases, is researcher of the Explokart Research Program for the History of Cartography of the Faculty of Geosciences at the University of Utrecht. Since 1990 he has been working on the carto-bibliography of atlases published in the Netherlands, Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici, and the compilation, in co-operation with Erlend de Groot, of an illustrated and annotated catalogue of the Atlas Blaeu-Van der Hem, the most important collector's atlas.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 415 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822831255
• ISBN-13: 978-3822831250
• Product Dimensions: 20 x 13.1 x 3.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,175,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece edition of an amazing atlas, November 2, 2006

By 

William Lee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atlas Maior of 1665 (Hardcover)

According to Taschen's website, "The finest and most comprehensive baroque atlas was Joan Blaeu's exceptional Atlas Maior, completed in 1665."

This reproduction of what was orginally an 11 volume magnum opus with 594 maps has been loving recreated by Taschen. The color reproductions are beautiful with large fold out illustrations scattered throughout the atlas. The detail on the maps themselves is striking.

The quality of this reproduction is spectacular, and the book itself is absolutely enormous. Forget coffee table book, this is a dining room table edition. It weighs in at 18 lbs and arrived at my doorstep in a gigantic box.

If you have any interest in maps, history, or beautiful bookmaking, this edition is worth every penny (much like most of Taschen's other offerings).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big, heavy... and great!, November 10, 2006

By 

D. Boisvert (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Atlas Maior of 1665 (Hardcover)

I've been hunting old world maps for a while. Usually, these were expensive and not practical to look at. During a trip to the Musée du Louvre in Paris, I stumbled upon the Atlas Maior. I nearly got down on my knees. Very complete, detailed, impressive, just amazing. The cost is not a factor for the huge beast of great art and History.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible book!, November 17, 2009

By 

JMUL "Atlas fan" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Atlas Maior of 1665 (Hardcover)

For those of us who love ancient maps and the history of cartography, this book brings us the possibility of having a facsimile of the turning point, master-piece of the golden age of cartography. I'd been looking for this book in my country with no success, I'm very happy to have it in my collection. Regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina.