Aa, Pieter van der (1659-1733)
| Pieter van der Aa was born in Leyden in 1659 and made an early start in life by being apprenticed to a bookseller at the age of nine. He started on his own in business as a book publisher at the age of twenty three and was a very successful merchant. During the following fifty years he published an enormous amount of material. Many of his atlases were made from outdated plates acquired from many of the older well-known cartographers. His maps are collected predominately because of their decorative qualities. Pieter van der Aa died in 1733. |
Bellin, Jacques-Nicolas (1703-1772)
| Jacques Bellin was born in Paris in 1703. He entered the employment of the navy department and was instructed to make charts of all the oceans and seas. He was appointed "Hydrographer to the King" and was a member of the Royal Society in London. Bellin produced a very large number of sea charts of the highest quality which appeared in many editions with varying numbers of charts to the end of the century. He also prepared all the charts that are in Abbe Prevost's Histoire generale des voyages. Jacques Nicolas Bellin was one of the greatest and most important French cartographers of the mid-18th century. His works were widely copied throughout Europe. Bellin died in Versailles on March 21, 1772. |
Blaeu, Family
| Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was born at Alkmaar and founded his business in Amsterdam in 1599. He was originally a globe and instrument maker but he later expanded business with publishing maps, topographical works and books of sea charts. He bought several plates of the Mercator Atlas from Jodocus Hondius II which he used to complete his Atlantis Appendix. About five years later the first two volumes of his planned world atlas, Atlas Novus or Theatrum Orbis Terrarum were issued. He was appointed Hydrographer to the East India Company. Before 1620 Blaeu signed his works Guilielmus Janssonius or Willems Jans Zoon. From 1620 onward he preferred Guilielmus or G. Blaeu.
After his death his sons, Joan (1596-1673) and Cornelis continued their father's business. After the death of Cornelis, Joan continued alone. Around 1649 Joan Blaeu published a collection of Dutch city maps named Tooneel der Steeden or Theater of Cities. His six volume work Atlas Major followed. After a serious fire and Joan’s death in1673 the surviving plates and maps were sold to Frederick de Wit, Pieter Schenk and Gerard Valck. |
Bonne, Rigober (1727 – 1795)
| Rigobert Bonne was a French hydrographer and cartographer during the period of late 18th century. He was born in the year of 1727 in Raucourt, France. Bonne’s major work was the Atlas Maritime first published in 1762. In 1773 Bonne succeeded Jacques Nicolas Bellin as Royal Cartographer of the French Hydrological Office. Bonne’s work represents an important step in the evolution of the cartographic ideology away from the decorative work of the 17th and early 18th century towards a more detail oriented and practical aesthetic.
The work of Bonne is highly regarded for its detail, historical importance, and overall aesthetic appeal. As Royal hydrographer, Bonne's main concern was the production of marine charts with special emphasis on the coastal regions but he was also involved in other works, including many for fellow cartographers. His large output of charts, some of which appeared in the 'Atlas Maritime' bares considerable mention. The style of the maps created by Rigobert Bonne however had a strong influence of his predecessor Bellin. He died in 1795
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Commelin, Isaac (1598-1676)
| Commelin or Commelijn was born in Amsterdam (1598) and was a Dutch historian and publisher. Isaac Commelin published a large two volume collection of early travel-accounts, known as Begin ende voortgangh van de Vereenighde Nederlantsche Geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie as well as other basic work about discoveries, travels, geography, astronomy and cosmography. He also wrote Lives of the Stadtholders William I. and Maurice. He was the father of Jan Commelin and Casparus Commelin. Isaac Commelin died in 1676. |
Danckerts family
| The Danckerts family was active in Amsterdam as map sellers and publishers for nearly a century. Cornelis Danckerts (1603-1656) “The Elder” and Justus Danckerts (1635-1701) were by far its most significant members. The maps by Justus or Theodorus Danckerts were placed in atlases between 1680 and 1700. These are very rare. The title pages of these atlases are undated. It makes it difficult to date the maps. The Danckerts also produced wall maps of the world and continents. Their stock of plates was sold to R. and J. Ottens. |
de Bruijn, Cornelis (1652 - 1727)
| Cornelis de Bruyn (de Bruijn) was a Dutch portrait painter. He painted for some years in Italy. De Bruyn is remembered chiefly for the records of his travels in Egypt, Persia, India and other countries. His teacher was Theodoor van der Schuer (1634-1707). He made two large tours and published illustrated books with his observations of people, buildings, plants and animals. After his first tour he arrived in Amsterdam in 1693. In 1694 he became a member of the “Accademie van de Teyken-Const” which is now known as the Dutch Royal Academy of Art. In 1698 he published Reizen door de vermaardste Deelen van Klein Asia (Travels in the Principal Parts of Asia Minor). The result was splendid and it was translated in several languages. In 1701 he left for Russia. He returned in 1708 and published an account of his adventures in Reizen over Moskovie, door Persie en Indie (Travels into Moscovy, Persia, and the East Indies). Unfortunately his second book, Reizen over Moskovie was not such a success. Not very much is known about the last period of his life. From Amsterdam he fled to Vienne. It is not known where he is buried. |
DIGITAL REPRODUCTION
| We are proud to offer some of our beautiful images as digital reproductions. Each reproduction has been crafted directly from our original and is fully representative of the fine antiquarian condition of the original. Our reproductions have been printed on 90 lb. cover stock to simulate the heavy, stable, age toned paper of the original. The new card stock is smooth which allows for the imprinting of intricate details from the original. It also makes matting and framing quite easy. The original has survived hundred(s) of years of handling so as you might imagine, there may be some wear, foxing and other imperfections etc. which are characteristic of many, if not most, antique paper items that survive today. We have faintly preserved these distinguishing marks and whenever possible, plate lines have also been included in the printing to further replicate the state, and authenticity of the original piece. If you are interested in originals, please check out our wonderful collection of authentic antique maps and prints in the appropriate section. |
Fer, Nicholas de (1646-1720)
| Nicholas De Fer took over the business of his father Antoine. De Fer, a French cartographer, geographer, engraver and publisher, produced over 600 sheet maps, wall maps. His maps were prized for their decorative qualities rather than the accuracy of their geography. He was appointed to be a Geographer to the King. Among his works are also several atlases. Some atlases are France Triomphante in 1693, Forces de L’Europe in 1696, Atlas Curieuk in 1705 and Atlas Royal. Nicolas de Fer died in 1720. |
Hoet, G.
| Hoet, G. |
Homann, Johann Baptist (1663-1724)
| Johann Baptist Homann was a German cartographer who set up his own publishing company in 1702. It was the most successful map publishing company of the 18th century. After publishing his first atlas in 1707 he became a member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences. In 1715 Homann was appointed to be Imperial Geographer of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1716 Homann published his masterpiece Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt (Grand Atlas of all the World). The firm continued publishing atlases and individual maps until the next century. He was succeeded by a company commonly called “Homann Heirs”, in business until 1848. John Baptist Homann died in 1724 (Nuremberg). |
Hondius Family
| Jodocus Hondius (the elder) was born in Flanders and was engraver as well as cartographer. In 1584 he fled to London where he engraved maps for The Mariner's Mirror (Spiegel der Zeevaerdt). After some years he settled in Amsterdam. In 1604 he purchased the plates of Gerard Mercator's Atlas from Mercator's grandson. Hondius re-published Mercator's work with 36 additional maps, including several produced by him although he gave Mercator full credit as the author. He published enlarged editions from 1606 in many languages. These atlases have become known as the Mercator/Hondius series. A pocket atlas, Atlas Minor, as a re-engraved followed. After the death of Jodocus Hondius the Elder in 1612 the work was carried on by his widow and sons Jodocus II and Henricus. Later there was a partnership with Jan Janson and after 1633 his name was on the atlases. Hondius also engraved the plates for the maps in The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine in the years between 1605 and 1610. Jodocus Hondius died in 1612. |
Hooghe, Romeyn de (1645 - 1708)
| Romeyn de Hooghe painted, engraved, sculpted, designed medals, taught drawing in school and bought and sold art as a dealer. He was born in Amsterdam in 1645 and worked there until c.1680-1682.
For several Dutch provinces, he created interior architectural paintings and other works. During the 1690's he made sculptures for the palace of Het Loo (1689-1692), designed and etched triumphal arches and medals for William III's entry into the Hague (1691) and designed the Haarlem market festival decorations for the peace celebration after the capture of Namur (1695). He was well-educated. De Hooghe documented the news of his time and in addition he illustrated hundreds of scientific, political and religious books. He etched allegories and mythological scenes, portraits, caricatures, political satires, historical subjects, landscapes, topographical views (especially of Dutch cities), battle scenes, genre scenes, title pages, and book illustrations. His lively style displayed the baroque fashion for spectacular and allegorical fantasy. Romeyn de Hooghe was the most significant and prolific Dutch engraver in the second half of the seventeenth century. In his prints he often combined contemporary personalities with allegorical figures. De Hooghe died in 1708 (Haarlem). |
Houraken
| Houraken |
Isle, Guillaume de l'(1675-1726)
| Guillaume de L’Isle (or Delisle) was a French cartographer who adopted entirely new principals in cartography. Delisle recognized that the new methods of measuring by scale and of marking places were very valuable for cartography. Guillaume Delisle's first works were his World Map and his Map of the Continents, both published in 1700. In 1702 he was elected member of the “Academie Royale des Sciences” and in 1718 he became “Premier Geographer du Roi”. Delisle is called the founder of modern cartography. His maps of the newly explored parts of the world were very accurate. His maps were re-published long after his death in 1726. Business was continued by his nephew Philippe Buache. |
Kaerius, Petrus or van der Keere
| Pieter van den Keere (Petrus Kaerius) was born in c. 1570 in Gent as the son of a printer. He changed his homeland at young age for England and worked in London as an engraver. In 1596, Van den Keere returned to Holland and he married the sister of Petrus Bertius in 1599. He engraved a large number of individual maps in order of several cartographers. He settled in Amsterdam in 1609, where he started publishing in addition to his activities as an engraver. In 1617 he published the atlas of the Netherlands Germania inferior. Pieter van den Keere died in Gent in c. 1630. |
Luyken/Weigel
| Luyken/Weigel |
Mallet
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Picart, Bernard (1673 - 1733)
| Bernard Picart - born in Paris in 1673. The son of an engraver, Bernard studied at the Académie Royale and initially followed in his father’s footsteps, engraving copperplates of works by well known contemporary painters. After a few years in Antwerp, Picart returned to Paris in 1698 and married in 1702. All his children died in infancy and by the end of 1708 his wife died as well. 1712 he married Anne Vincent, daughter of an Amsterdam stationer, and settled in Amsterdam where he spent the rest of his life. Picart was a skilled engraver whose primary work was mainly was in the field of book illustration. |
