“Map of the World” charted the flamboyance that Joan Blaeu (1599 – 1673) lavished upon cartography in the 17th century. Blaeu heralded the heyday of mapmaking following the death of Jodocus Hondius II, whose Mercator maps had previously dominated the European world atlas market. Blaeu astutely filled the void with the magnificent world atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Atlas Major, encompassing numerous volumes, 3,000 text pages, 600 maps, and translations in six languages. Blaeu’s “Map of the World” exhibits the exquisite engraving, striking colors, and gorgeous typography which distinguished the work in his atlas.

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