Author Description

<p>Superlatives tend to fail in describing Joan Blaeu's Atlas Maior-that being said, it stands as <b>one of the most extravagant feats in the history of mapmaking</b>. The original Latin edition, completed in 1665, was the largest and <b>most expensive book to be published during the 17th century</b>. Its 594 maps appearing across 11 volumes spanned Arctica, Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Ambitious in scale and artistry, it is <b>included in the Canon of Dutch History</b>, an official survey of 50 individuals, creations, or events that chart the most important historical developments of the Netherlands.<br> <br> TASCHEN's <b>meticulous reprint brings this luxurious Baroque wonder into the hands of modern readers</b>. In an age of digitized cartography and global connectivity, it celebrates the <b>steadfast beauty of quality printing</b> and restores <b>the wonder of an exploratory age</b>, in which Blaeu's native Amsterdam was a center of international trade and discovery.<br> <br> This edition is based on the <b>Austrian National Library's complete colored and gold-heightened copy</b> of Atlas Maior, assuring the finest detail and quality. University of Amsterdam's <b>Peter van der Krogt</b> introduces the historical and cultural significance of the atlas while providing detailed descriptions for individual maps, revealing the full scale and ambition of Blaeu's masterwork.</p>