Blaeu, Willem | The most famous "carte-à-figures" map of the Americas

Blaeu, Willem

Americae Nova Tabula. [Amsterdam: circa 1634]

Copperplate engraved map (to sight: 570 x 425 mm). Handcoloring, with side panels of costumed figures and upper frieze of major cities, contemporary annotations in sepia ink; minor browning, one or two spots, one or two marginal repairs, right margin trimmed close. Matted and framed; not examined out of frame.

One of the most sought after maps of the Americas

The panels along the sides of the present map depict individuals in characteristic dress from California, Florida, and Virginia. The developing colonies can be seen along the eastern seaboard of North America.

The highpoint of Dutch cartography 

REFERENCE

Burden 189; Tooley 295