Durham Maps

50x38 cm

DECORATIVE FOLIO MAP

EPISCOPATUS DUNELMENSIS Vulgo The Bishoprike of DURHAM.

Copper engraving by Jan Blaeu (1596-1673) the son of William Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), founder of the famous Dutch publishing house. The county maps of England and Wales appeared in the fourth volume in 1645 of their world atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum which commenced publication with the first volume in 1630 and with later editions expanded to 12 volumes. The maps were closely copied from John Speed and the text verso translated into various languages from William Camden's Britannia. The production of the maps was of the highest quality with consistently fine and uniform engraving embellished with decorative title cartouches and armorial bearings. The high quality of the production was maintained with printing from Blaeu's own printing house using the finest quality rag paper. The atlases containing the English county maps were published from 1645 until 1667, the maps were unaltered throughout publication. A fire at Blaeu's printing house destroyed most of the plates in 1672 and Jan Blaeu died the following year effectively ending the Blaeu publishing dynasty.

This example of Durham is in later hand colour. Dutch text verso. Large margins