The sixty-six volume atlas Galerie Agréable du Monde remains the most significant undertaking of Leiden printer and publisher Pieter van der Aa. Born in 1659, he built a career that spanned the roles of cartographer, bookseller, and visual artist within the Dutch Republic, eventually becoming the official head printer for his home city and its university by 1715.
Early Career and Family Roots
Coming from a family deeply involved in the book and print trades, van der Aa grew up in an environment conducive to his eventual profession. His father, originally a stonecutter from Holstein, influenced a household where his brothers Boudewyn and Hildebrand were also active as a printer and a copper plate engraver, respectively. Trained in the mechanics of the book trade from a young age, van der Aa established his own business in Leiden by his early twenties.
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Van der Aa initiated his independent professional life in 1683, focusing initially on Latin-language texts related to science and medicine. His output eventually expanded to include pirated editions of foreign bestsellers and reissues of older maps that had fallen out of print. His cartographic approach relied heavily on acquiring existing copper plates from other publishers rather than original engraving. He often enhanced these collected images by adding decorative borders before incorporating them into his massive, multi-volume compilations, which covered regions ranging from Morocco to Madagascar.
The Galerie Agréable du Monde
This expansive illustrated atlas represents the zenith of van der Aa's career. Comprised of more than 3,000 plates, the work was issued in sixty-six distinct parts and included diverse visual documentation such as city views, architecture, costumes, and maps. Published in 1728, production was limited to approximately 100 copies. The collection demonstrates his editorial habit of compiling existing geographic and illustrative material for a general audience in Dutch and French.
Contributions to History and Science
Throughout his life in Leiden, van der Aa remained active in documenting global exploration, producing various works on the East and West Indies. He compiled a substantial history of Italy and Sicily, a subject that held personal interest for him. Beyond geography, he participated in scientific output, notably printing the posthumous work Paradisus Batavus by botanist Paul Hermann in 1698. He died in 1733 at the age of 74.
Fast facts
- Born: 1659, Leiden
- Died: 1733, Leiden
- Citizenship: Dutch Republic
- Primary Occupations: Printer, bookseller, cartographer
- Head Printer for Leiden City and University: 1715
- Notable Work: Galerie Agréable du Monde
- Language of publication: Dutch, French, Latin
Questions readers ask
Did van der Aa engrave all the maps in his collections?
No, he frequently acquired plates from other cartographers and publishers rather than performing the engraving himself.
What is the origin of the orchid genus Aa?
It is said to be named after him by botanist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach due to van der Aa's role as the printer for Paul Hermann, though this explanation is disputed.
Achievements
- Recorded as printer, publisher and bookseller
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