Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571 in Uitgeest nebo Alkmaar - 1638 in Amsterdam), also abbreviated to Willem Jansz. Blaeu, was a Dutch cartographer, atlas maker and publisher. Along with his son Johannes Blaeu, Willem is considered one of the notable figures of the Netherlandish or Dutch school of cartography during its golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Blaeu was born at Uitgeest or Alkmaar. As the son of a well-to-do herring salesman, he was destined to succeed his father in the trade, but his interests lay more in mathematics and astronomy. Between 1594 and 1596, as a student of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, he qualified as an instrument and globe maker. During this time in 1596, his son Joan Blaeu was born and he would also become a well established cartographer. Later in 1600 Willem discovered the second ever variable star, now known as P Cygni.
Once he returned to Holland, he made country maps and world globes, and as he possessed his own printing works, he was able to regularly produce country maps in an atlas format, some of which appeared in the Atlas Novus published in 1635. In 1633 he was appointed map-maker of the Dutch East India Company. He was also an editor and published works of Willebrord Snell, Descartes, Adriaan Metius, Roemer Visscher, Gerhard Johann Vossius, Barlaeus, Hugo Grotius, Vondel and the historian and poet Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft. He died in Amsterdam.
He had two sons, Johannes and Cornelis Blaeu, who continued their father's mapmaking and publishing business after his death in 1638. Prints of the family's works are still sold today. Original maps are rare collector items.
Moravia. "Moravia Marchionatus". Original copper-engraving, W. J. Blaeu after I. A. Comenius' map of the region. Published by Blaeu in Amsterdam, ca. 1630. Original old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche with Moravian coat-of-arms and another...
"Natolia, quae olim Asia minor". Copper-engraving by W. Blaeu, ca. 1630. Outline colouring. With 2 figure and ornamental cartouches and rich maritime decorations. 38:50 cm (15 x 19.7 inch.).
"Nivernium Ducatus, Gallice Duche de Nevers". Orig. copper-engraving published by J. and W. Blaeu in Amsterdam, ca. 1640. Original old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche and another ornamental cartouche wth the scale of map ("Milliaria...
Mexico."Nova Hispania et Nova Galicia". Copper-engraving published by W. Blaeu, ca 1635. Coloured. With two figure and heraldic cartouches, windrose and ships. 39:50 cm (15.4:19.7").
Mexico."Nova Hispania et Nova Galicia". Orig. copper-engraving after W. J. Blaeu's map of the region. Published by P. Schenk and G. Valk in Amsterdam, ca 1695. Orig. old colouring. With great figure title-cartouche with a coat-of-arms, ornamental...
Italy."Nova Italiae Delineatio". Orig. copper-engraving, W. J. Blaeu. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1642. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Miliaria Italica ... Germanica...
"Nova totius Germaniae descriptio". Orig. copper-engraving published by W. J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, ca. 1635. Orig. old colouring. With decorative heading title and imperial eagle with coat-of-arms. 39,5:49,5 cm (15 1/2 x 19 1/2 inch.).
Brazil."Novus Brasiliae typus". Orig. copper-engraving by W. Blaeu (1571-1638), first published 1630. With 2 figure and ornamental cartouches, 2 windroses, small inset-map ("Baya de Todos os Sanctos") and rich figure ilustrations. 38:49,5 cm (15...
Orkney and Shetland."Orcadum et Schetlandiae Insularum accuratissima descriptio". Orig. copper-engraving. Published in Amsterdam by J. Janssonius, 1646. Original old coloring. Two maps printed from one plate. With 4 figure and ornamental...
"Orcadum et Schetlandiae Insularum accuratissima descriptio". Orig. copper-engraving. Published in Amsterdam by J. Janssonius, 1646. Original old coloring. Two maps printed from one plate. With 4 figure and ornamental cartouches, great...
"Orcadum et Schetlandiae Insularum accuratissima descriptio". Orig. copper-engraving. Published in Amsterdam by G. Valk and P. Schenk, ca. 1690. Original old coloring. Two maps printed from one plate. With 4 figure and ornamental cartouches,...
"Orcadum et Schetlandiae insularum accuratissima descriptio". Orig. copper-engraving, published by J. Blaeu, ca. 1650. Original old coloring. A map in two parts printed from one plate. With 4 coloured figure and heraldic cartouches and many...
"Paderbornensis Episcopatus descriptio nova". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. von J. Gigas bei W. Blaeu, (1640). Mit 3 ausgem. Rollwerkskart. u. zahlr. farb. Gebietswappen. 37,5:49 cm.
Paraguay."Paraguay, ó Prov. de Rio de la Plata". Mědiryt. W.Blaeu, ca.1630. 2 ornament. kartuše, větrná růžice. 37,5:48 cm (14.8:18.9").
Paraguay."Paraguay, ó prov. de Rio de la Plata cum regionibus adiacentibus Tucuman et Sta. Cruz de la Sierra". Orig. copper-engraving, first published by W. J. Blaeu, 1630. Orig. old colouring. With great ornamental title-cartouche with the...
"Parte Alpestre dello Stato di Milano, con il Lago Maggiore di Lugano, `e di Como". Kol. Kupf.-Kte. (von W. Blaeu, um 1640). Mit 2 ausgem. fig. u. ornament. Kart. 38:51 cm.
Peru."Peru". Copper-engraving published by W. Blaeu, ca 1630. Colored. With ornamental title cartouche, windrose, ships and sea-monsters. 38:49,5 cm (15:19 1/2 inch.).
"Pomeraniae Ducatus tabula". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. von S. Rogiers nach E. Lubin bei W. Blaeu, (1638). Mit 2 ausgem. fig. Kart., gr. farb. Wappen, 2 Windrosen u. Maritimerstaffage. 38:49 cm.
"Prussiae nova tabula". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. von C. Henneberg bei W. Blaeu (um 1640). Mit 3 ausgem. ornament. Rollwerkskart. u. maritimer Staffage. 38,5:49 cm.
"Quarta pars Brabantiae cujus caput Sylvaducis". Orig. copper-engraving after W. van der Burght map of the region. Published by W. Blaeu, ca. 1640. Coloured. With figure and ornamental title cartouche, 2 great coats-of-arms in upper corners and...
"Rhenolandiae et Amstelladiae exactißima tabula". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. von W. Blaeu, um 1640. Mit ausgem. fig. Kart., farb. Wappen u. Legende 1-19. 41:50 cm.
Rhine River. "Rhenus fluviorum Europae celeberrimus, cum Mosa, Mosella, et reliquis, in illum se exonerantibus, fluminibus". Orig. copper-engraving. Published in Amsterdam by W. and J. Blaeu, 1635. Original old colouring. With great figure...
"Rugia Insula ac Ducatus accuratissime descripta". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. von E. Lubin bei W. Blaeu, (um 1630). Mit ausgem. Wappenkart. u. seitl. Leisten mit je 15 unkol. Adelswappen. 38,5:50 cm.
Rügen (Germany)."Rugia Insula ac Ducatus accuratissime descripta". Orig. copper-engraving after E. Lubin map of the region, published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, ca. 1660. Orig old colouring with gold supplements. With ornamental and heraldical...
"Sabaudia ducatus. Savoye". Copper-engraving. Original old colouring. Published by W. J. Blaeu, ca. 1635. Ornamental title cartouche with coat-of-arms held by two cherubs and "Miliaria Gallica. Milliaria Italica" in another ornamental cartouche....
"Saltzburg Archiepiscopatus, et Carinthia Ducatus". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. nach G. Mercator bei W. Blaeu, (um 1635). Mit ausgem. Schriftleiste u. 2 farb. von Putten gehaltenen Wappen. 38,5:49,5 cm.
"Sardinia Insula". Orig. copper-engraving. Published in Amsterdam by W. J. Blaeu, 1635. Orig. old colouring. With title in upper left corner. 18:24 cm (7 3/4 x 9 1/2 inch.).
"Saxonia Superior, cum Lusatia et Misnia". Altkol. Kupf.-Kte. von W. J. Blaeu, um 1635. Mit dekorative Titelleiste. 39,5:51 cm.
"Secunda pars Brabantiae cuius urbs primaria Bruxellae". Copper-engraving according to M. F. van Langren map of the region published by W. Blaeu, ca. 1640. With 2 coloured figure and heraldical cartouches, great coat-of-arms and windrose. 41,5:53 cm.
"Sicilia regnum". Kol. Kupf.-Kte. von W. Blaeu, (um1640). Mit 2 ausgem. fig. u. floral. Kart., 2 großen farb. Wappen u. Segelschiffstaffage. 38,5:50 cm.
Sicily. "Sicilia Regnum". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Italica communia. Milliaria Germanica"), 2 great...
Sicílie. "Sicilia Regnum". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Italica communia. Milliaria...
Sicily. "Sicilia Regnum". Orig. copperplate engraving. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Italica communia. Milliaria Germanica"), 2 great...
"Stato della Chiesa, con la Toscana". Kol. Kupf.-Kte. von W. Blaeu (um 1640). Mit 2 ausgem. fig. u. herald. Kart u. reicher maritimer Saffage. 38,5:50 cm.