Willem Janszoon Blaeu's magnificent 1608 wall map of Asia is a cartographic masterpiece of the 17th century. It not only holds the distinction of being the most significant map of the Asian continent during that era but also served as the blueprint for numerous subsequent maps of Asia in the following century. Blaeu’s wall maps of the continents are as renowned for their borders as they are for their geographic content.

Wall maps were the apex of cartography, providing the largest scale mapping of a region, allowing for maximum detail. Atlas size maps were usually small scale reduced versions of wall maps.

Willem Blaeu's four wall maps of the continents of 1608 were very popular and re-issued by several publishers throughout the seventeenth century. Probably thousands were sold at the time, but due to their fragility only a handful of examples of the wall maps have survived, mostly in poor or incomplete condition, and several without the border decorations and the border text panels.

In volume V of Monumenta Cartographica Neerlandica (page 80), Schilder proposes two candidate examples as first states of the 1608; one in Switzerland ("Rittersaalverein, Burgdorf (Switzerland; mounted and stored in a paneled wooden locker)") and one at the BnF in Paris ("Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (Ge C 4930 [ex Klaproth Collection, no. 745]; mounted)"). Both of these examples are comprised of only the four central cartographic sheets, having previously lost their border decorations and surrounding text sheets.

Because wall maps were used as large informative and decorative pieces, intended for display, and because they were mounted on linen, often varnished and then attached to rollers, they had little protection from the elements. These fragile cartographic treasures were inevitably doomed to perish. Light, humidity, temperature fluctuations, smoke and soot from fire places all had destructive effects. Furthermore, being made from paper they were subject to damage by insects and worms.

Artist responsible for the city etchings of Asia

When found complete, Willem Blaeu's 1608 wall map of Asia is composed of the following segments:

- four central sheets covering the map, engraved in copperplates by Josua ven den Ende.
- sixteen side panels with etnographic images of various people of Asia, etched in copper by Hessel Gerritsz.
- twelve bottom panels with bird eye views of cities of Asia, etched in copper by Hessel Gerritsz.
- elaborate text panels with a detailed Latin description of the various regions of Asia, set in letterpress.

It is noteworthy that the panel decorations were etched by cartographer and artist Hessel Gerritsz, who worked for Willem Blaeu until 1607 but would soon after become the official chartmaker of the VOC.

The twelve town and city views originate from travel journals and city view atlases, eight of them from Braun and Hogenberg’s Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Macao is from de Bry's Petits Voyages, Volume VIII. Goa is from Linschoten's Itinerario, Bantam from the journal of Lodewijcksz on the first Dutch fleet to the Indies, and Gammalamme (capital of Ternate) from Van Neck's journal on the second Dutch fleet to the Indies, thus being the first Dutch fleet reaching the Spice Islands.

Rarity

This is the only known example of these city views, other than the imperfect segments mounted on the few surviving copies of the wall map, the ones that even include the decorations. The views are lacking in all collections of early city views, even the foremost ones like Jerusalem.

Seventeenth century Amsterdam book and map sellers had a very efficient and effective distribution system to sell their books and maps all over Europe. They would exhibit their products at the yearly bookfair in Franfurt, where colleague book and map sellers would put in sizeable orders that would mostly be shipped to them after the fair, over land or by sea (depending oon the destination), to Scandinavia, to Italy, Germany, France, Britain, Eastern Europe and so on. These buyers would then resell the products in their city. Wall maps could be ordered in two versions. One version was to order them assembled by the maker (mounted on linen and attached to wooden rollers, colored or uncolored) and shipped rolled in a long wooden crate. Alternatively, cheaper and more popular, they could be ordered as a construction kit, in separate sheet segments (colored or uncolored), with an instruction booklet on how to assemble the sheets and in what order (think Ikea). Separate sheets and loose maps were generally packed in quantity in wooden barrels, like books were, to facilitate easy handling of the considerable weight of paper.

As expected, loose segments of wall maps have a much greater chance of surviving the damages of time to assembled wall maps, and they are often the only examples of what a wall map would have looked like in pristine condition. It was however irresistable for the resellers or the end customers to assemble them, thus fast-tracking their demise. It is therefore that loose segments of wall maps are even rarer than assembled wall maps.

Condition

The city views have been trimmed and pasted on thick and strong 17th century paper. Manuscript page number "194" on verso, meaning the sheet was part of a large book with similar segments. Done at the time by someone with the intention to perfectly preserve the segments of the wall map in a composite atlas. Dark and even imprint of the copperplate(s). Mild mellowing of the paper, very authentic look and feel. Overall a near pristine copy of a unique item that is lacking in all collections of city views. Not in any collection of views of Jerusalem, Middle East, Gulf States, Macao, Moluccas, Portuguese India, Indian Ocean or VOC.

Willem Janszoon's city views on the 1608 wall map of Asia

The following twelve town plans and views are mounted along the lower border of Willem Janszoon Blaeu's 1608 map of Asia:

[1] RODUS
Model: Civitates I/50 [1575]
Source: [G.A. Vavassore, 1522]

[2] FAMAGUSTA
Model: Civitates I/50 [1575]
Source: [G.F. Camocio, c.1568]

[3] DAMASCO
Model: Civitates II/55 [1575]
Source: [after an unknown Italian source]

[4] IERVSALEM
Model: Civitates I/52 [1575]
Source: P. Laicksteen and Chr. Sgrothen, 1570

[5] ADEN
Model: Civitates I/53 [1575]
Source: [after an unknown Portuguese source]

[6] ORMUS
Model: Civitates I/54 [1575]
Source: [after an unknown Portuguese source]

[7] GOA
Model: Itinerario [1596]
Source: ibid.

[8] CALECVTH
Model: Civitates 1/54 [1575]
Source: [after an unknown Portuguese source]

[9] CANDY
Model: Civitates II/53 [1575]
Source: [after an unknown Portuguese source]

[10] BANTAM
Model: Lodewijksz' Journal [1598]
Source: ibid.

[11] GAMMALAMME
Model: Van Neck's Journal [1601]
Source: ibid.

[12] MACAO
Model: De Bry's 1598 Petit Voyages [Volume 8, 1598]
Source: [after an unknown Portuguese source]

Two-thirds of the views and plans are based on Civitates Orbis Terrarum by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, all originating from the first volume (1575). The sources used by the compiler of the Civitates can be retraced only partially.

In three instances an Italian engraving was used as a model. For the bird's-eye view of Jerusalem another source was used, namely, the beautiful 1570 print by Peter Laicksteen and Christian Sgrothen, known only from a copy published by Gerard de Jode. About the sources for the depictions of Aden, Ormus, Candy and Calicut we still have no information. In his foreword Georg Braun pays special thanks to the merchant Constantin von Lyskirchen for previously unpublished depictions of towns in Asia, Africa and Persia, accompanied by their handwritten descriptions. We can speculate that a Portuguese manuscript was put at Braun's disposal by Von Lyskirchen. This manuscript, which has not survived, must have been similar to the Lendas da India, by Gaspar Correia or the Livro de Lizarte de Abreu, both of which had been completed before 1564.

For Blaeu's map of Asia sources other than the Civitates were used as well. It is not surprising that in the town views the Itinerario by Jan Huygen van Linschoten (Amsterdam, 1596) was also referred to. The plan of the Portuguese capital in India included here, was used for the depiction of Goa. Cortesão and Teixeira da Mota are of the opinion that the plan of Goa, dated 1595 and signed by Van Linschoten, is not based on a Portuguese model. They state that the beauty of Van Linschoten's map and its many details conceal the great flaws in the drawings, and that the plan is virtually nothing more than a sketch made by Van Linschoten during his stay in this town.

The first voyage to the East under the command of Cornelis de Houtman (1595-97) also yielded much information on the lands and peoples of the East Indies which, from 1597 onwards, found a ready market among the interested public in the form of richly illustrated travel accounts. The most important account of this expedition came from Willem Lodewijcksz and was published with numerous illustrations and in several languages by Cornelis Claesz from 1598 onward. Among the illustrations was the plan of Bantam 'which is easily the best and largest port of all, where the most trading is done with all the surrounding islands and towns'. This plan with its legend served as a model for the depiction of Bantam on Blaeu's map of Asia. The voyage by De Houtman did not bring about the commercial results expected by the shipowners, but it stimulated the outfitting of new fleets.

During the voyage by admiral Jacob Cornelisz van Neck and Vice-Admiral Wijbrant van Warwijck (1598- 1600), the Spice Islands were visited directly. The published account of this voyage includes a view of Gammalamme, the former capital of Ternate, which served as a model for Blaeu's map.

(Schilder Monumenta Cartographica Neerlandica Volume V, pp. 128-135)

Willem Jansz. [Blaeu] and his son Joan are the most widely known cartographic publishers of the seventeenth century. Born as the son of a wealthy herring merchant in Alkmaar North Holland, to Anna, a first cousin of Willem. Cornelis Hooft was merchant in oil, grain and herring and twelve times mayor of Amsterdam. He hoped that Willem would take over his business.

But Willem was more interested in mathematics, astronomy and other scientific matters, however, and in 1595 he left for Denmark to study with the astronomer Tycho Brahe on the island of Ven. Brahe had established here his own observatory as well as a workshop for the manufacturing of instruments and a printing office. This enabled young Willem to acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge and provided him with contacts among like-minded people. After his return to the Netherlands he applied himself to astronomy for several years in his native Alkmaar. Here he published his first cartographic work: a celestial globe according to the observations of Tycho Brahe.

At the end of the sixteenth century Willem Jansz. moved with his family to Amsterdam. He set up a shop in celestial and terrestrial globes and nautical instruments, since the rapid growth of seafaring opened a large market for these goods. Soon he was able to offer for sale globes in various sizes. In 1605 Willem Jansz. moved to a new location at the "Op ‘t Water" (today Damrak nr. 46), a house with the sign of in de Vergulde Sonnewijwyser ("in the Gilded Sundial"). Apart from the manufacturing globes, Willem Jansz. published numerous maps and charts in folio size, along with multi-sheet wall maps, town views, and historical prints, all of which are now very rare.

Willem Jansz. made an unmatched contribution to the fields of navigation and cartography. His "Het Licht der Zee-vaert", published in 1608, was of great consequence for navigation in European coastal waters. He used the same oblong-size like Waghenaer did in his "Thresoor der Zeevaert" (1592): the work was constructed in a series of chapters, adding to each chapter sailing-descriptions for a specific stretch of coast and the corresponding chart. The coastal profiles in woodcut have been included in the text of each chapter.

In 1618 another mapmaker, bookseller and publisher, Jan Jansz. (Joannes Janssonius) established himself on the Damrak next door to Willem Jansz.’s shop. Accusing each other of copying and stealing information, the neighbours became fierce competitors. In about 1621, Willem Jansz. decided to put an end to the confusion between his name and his competitor’s and assumed his grandfather’s sobriquet, (Blauwe Willem), as the family name; thereafter he called himself Willem Jansz. Blaeu.

Responding to Janssonius’s plagiarism of "Het Licht der Zeevaert", Blaeu published a new pilot-guide in 1623: the "Zeespiegel", a description of the seas and coasts of the Eastern, Northern and Western Navigation. Approximately the same coastal areas are described as in the older "Het Licht der Zeevaert", but in a much more elaborate way and with a far greater number of charts.

Apart from pilot-guides, Blaeu also published single-sheet charts, often printed on durable vellum. As example attention is here given to the so-called "West-Indische Paskaert", a chart of the Atlantic Ocean in Mercator’s projection, published about 1630. Despite the obvious advantages for navigation, the charts drawn on this projection were only gradually accepted by navigators.

Blaeu was nearing the age of sixty when in 1630 he published his first atlas of the world and began to compete with Henricus Hondius. For many years Blaeu toyed with the idea of publishing his own atlas of the world. The initial material for an atlas was in Blaeu’s hands in the form of his own folio-maps, which he had begun publishing in 1604. Blaeu’s plan gained momentum, however, when he succeeded in 1629 in purchasing a large number of copperplates that had belonged to the late Jodocus Hondius the younger. Blaeu quickly amended these plates by replacing Hondius’s name with his own imprint, a common procedure in those days. In 1630 Blaeu published the "Atlantis Appendix", using his own maps and the amended maps of Jodocus Hondius. The world atlas consists of 60 maps, but without a descriptive text. In 1631 a new world atlas was published , titled "Appendix Theatri A. Ortelii et Atlantis G. Mercatoris", provided with a Latin text and nearly hundred maps. The intention in publishing this atlas was to produce a supplement to the works of the two famous geographers. Henricus Hondius and his brother-in-law Joannes Janssonius immediately took steps in reaction to the publication of Blaeu’s "Appendix" and published amended atlas-publications.

The fierce competition between Blaeu and Hondius-Janssonius greatly influenced the further development of their atlas productions. Blaeu now intended to distance himself completely from Ortelius and Mercator and to publish an entirely new world atlas in four languages. In 1634 a German edition was published, which contains a number of unfinished maps, a sign that the work was done hurriedly in order to have the atlas published in time.

The extent of Blaeu’s ambitious plans for the world atlas is reflected in his preface, where he states that it is his intention to describe the whole world and to depict all the ports and seas, and therefore several other volumes of the atlas were to follow shortly. In view of these plans, Blaeu’s investment in a new printing shop in 1637 is not surprising. Yet Blaeu did not live to see the publication of a new volume. After his death the business was continued by his two sons Joan and Cornelis, the elder of whom had been collaborating on the atlas since 1631. In 1640 a third volume was published (Italy), in 1645 a fourth (England and Wales), in 1654 a fifth (Scotland) and finally in 1655, a sixth volume covered China.

In addition to his activities as publisher, Willem Jansz. Blaeu continued his scientific pursuits. His expertise won official recognition at his appointment as chart maker and examiner of navigating officers by the Amsterdam Chamber of the United Dutch East India Company (VOC).

Blaeu’s new position gave him access to the enormous map archives of the VOC. He performed the function of chart maker until his death in 1638. For his task he employed the four assistants of his deceased predecessor Hessel Gerritsz. Blaeus’s work was most probably limited – given his age – to the supervision of his employees in the manufacture of charts, to the supervision of content and to any alterations and improvements required. A steady stream of charts, required to equip the ships, must have left his workshop. Thanks to his position as chart maker of the VOC, Blaeu was able to expand his world atlas of Asia with new maps and gain the edge on his Amsterdam competitors, Hondius and Janssonius.

Willem Jansz. Blaeu died in October 1638, leaving his prospering business to his sons, Joan and Cornelis.

(Schilder)

Master engraver and Map Maker, who 'ruled' the Seas

Hessel Gerritsz. (1580/81) ranks among the most important and influential cartographers of the early-seventeenth-century Amsterdam. He started his career in Willem Jansz. Blaeu's workshop. About 1608 he established himself as an independent engraver, mapmaker and printer.

In his position as chart-maker of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and West India Company (WIC) he had access to the latest ship logs, he equipped the ships to the east and the west with the latest charts, and was the best informed cartogrepher of the era.

(Schilder)

"Unquestionably the chief Dutch cartographer of the 17th century."

(Keuning)

His fame as cartographer grew rapidly to the point that on 16 October 1617 he was appointed the first exclusive cartographer of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), probably the most strategic position a cartographer could have in those days. He got the position by recommendation of Petrus Plancius, chief scientist and advisor of the VOC, who did not get along with the more senior Willem Blaeu. Gerritsz kept this post until his death in 1632, after which the position was given to Willem Blaeu after all (Plancius had passed away in 1622).

(Wikipedia)

In 1617, Hessel Gerritsz. published a large wall map of Italy in six sheets. His model for the geographical content was the wall map published by Giovanni Antonio Magini (1555-1617) in 1608, which was a milestone in the seventeenth century Italian cartography.45 He gave his wall map an extra cachet by extending the map image with town views and costumed figures. The design of the costumed figures is attributed to Pieter Lastman (1583-1633), the exquisite execution betraying the hand of the master etcher Gerritsz.

Gerritsz.' wall map of Italy was copied shortly after publication by the publishing house of Willem Jansz. [Blaeu]. To protect himself against such plagiarism in the future, he requested a patent from the States General. On 27 January 1618, they granted him a general patent in which amongst other things it was forbidden in any way to reproduce, copy or distribute his maps, descriptions of lands and prototypes ('models') both written or printed. Such an extensive patent was highly unusual, in the most cases a privilege was granted for precisely defined publications. Hessel Gerritsz. was so highly regarded in 1617, that he received such an important privilege from the States General in January 1618, shown by his appointment as instructor in geography for the Councillors of the Admiralty at Amsterdam on 15 July 1617 and as map maker for the Chamber Amsterdam of the VOC on 16 October 1617. With both appointments his old employer Willem Jansz. [Blaeu] was passed over.

With the appointment of Hessel Gerritsz. as map maker of the Chamber Amsterdam – a function which he held until his death in 1632 – the VOC brought a driven person into the house who undertook the organization of equipping the ships with charts and navigational aids with vigour. The instructions issued to him by the Chamber Amsterdam in 1619, give a good insight into what was expected from a map maker of the VOC. Because all merchants, masters and pilots were obliged to deliver the journals, maps and drawings made during the voyage to him on their arrival in Texel, with the aid of this material he was able to improve and expand the charts for the navigation to and from the Indies. The influential position that Hessel Gerritsz. held in equipping the VOC ships with charts cannot be overrated, for within a very short period he developed certain prototypes of charts, which – with some small adjustments – were part of the standard equipment of a VOC ship, sometimes until the middle of the eighteenth century.

(Schilder)