The Atlas Maior, an eleven-volume collection containing 600 maps, established itself as the most expensive book of the 17th century. Produced by Joan Blaeu, this work represented the pinnacle of Dutch cartography and served as a significant status symbol for the elite collectors of the era, reflecting the commercial and intellectual ambitions of the Dutch Republic.
Early Career and Family Firm
Born in Alkmaar in 1596, Joan Blaeu was the son of the cartographer Willem Blaeu. Although he completed a doctor of law degree in 1620, he did not pursue a legal career. Instead, he joined his father’s business, focusing on the creation of globes, maps, and atlases. Following the death of his father in 1638, Joan and his brother Cornelis took over the family firm. In 1635, he had already collaborated with his father on the two-volume Atlas Novus.
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Take the IQ test →Heliocentrism and Maritime Discovery
In 1648, Blaeu published the world map Nova et Accuratissima Terrarum Orbis Tabula. This document was the first of its kind to integrate the heliocentric theories of Nicolaus Copernicus, illustrating the earth revolving around the sun. The map also incorporated the geographical discoveries of Abel Tasman, notably renaming the region now known as New Zealand as Nieuw Zeeland after the Dutch province of Zeeland. His work on regional geography continued with the publication of the first atlas of Scotland in 1654, which utilized information compiled by Timothy Pont.
Institutional Influence and Competition
Blaeu served as the official cartographer for the Dutch East India Company. His professional standing reached a political peak in 1651 when he was voted into the Amsterdam Vroedschap. He maintained a fierce rivalry with contemporary mapmaker Johannes Janssonius, each striving to outproduce the other in the volume and quantity of maps released. This competitive spirit fueled the output of works such as his 1649 collection of city maps, Toonneel der Steeden, and his 12-volume publication, Le Grand Atlas, ou Cosmographie blaviane.
Destruction and Legacy
In December 1672, a fire devastated Blaeu's studio, destroying his ongoing work and plans for a new cosmology. He died a year later on 21 December 1673 in Amsterdam and was interred at the Westerkerk. His son, Joan II, carried on the family's cartographic and publishing operations until 1712, ensuring that the firm's output remained a vital component of the history of maritime exploration.
Fast facts
- Born: 1596, Alkmaar
- Died: 21 December 1673, Amsterdam
- Citizenship: Dutch Republic
- Notable work: Atlas Maior
- Burial place: Westerkerk
- Official role: Cartographer of the Dutch East India Company
- Education: Doctor of law, 1620
- Family: Son of cartographer Willem Blaeu
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Blaeu's 1648 world map?
It was the first map to incorporate the heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus and the findings of Abel Tasman.
Why was the Atlas Maior important?
With 11 volumes and 600 maps, it was the most expensive book published in the 17th century and a major status symbol.
Achievements
- Recorded as cartographer, publisher and instrument maker
