Joan Blaeu (also Johannes Blaeu; 23 September 1596 - 21 December 1673) was a Dutch cartographer born in Alkmaar, the son of cartographer Willem Janszoon Blaeu.
In 1620, he became a doctor of law but he joined the work of his father. In 1635, they published the Atlas Novus (full title: Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive, Atlas novus) in two volumes. Joan and his brother Cornelius took over the studio after their father died in 1638. Blaeu became the official cartographer of the Dutch East India Company.
Around 1649, Blaeu published a collection of Dutch city maps named Toonneel der Steeden (Views of Cities). In 1651, he was voted into the Amsterdam council. In 1654, Blaeu published the first atlas of Scotland, devised by Timothy Pont. In 1662, he reissued the Atlas Novus, also known as Atlas Maior, in 11 volumes, and one for oceans.[citation needed] A cosmology was planned as their next project, but a fire destroyed the studio completely in 1672.
Blaeu died in Amsterdam on 21 December 1673. He is buried in the Westerkerk there.
Scotland. Annandale. "Annandiae Praefectura, Vulgo The Stewartrie of Annandail". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map of the region. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1654. Original old colouring. 42,5:51 cm.
"Bedfordiensis Comitatus- Anglis Bedford shire. Buckinghamiensis Comitatus- Anglis Buckingham shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. Two maps on one plate. With 2 decorative title-cartouches, 2 ornamental...
Blokzijl. "Blockzyl". Orig. copperplate engraving from J. Blaeu's Städtebuch, 1649. 41:50 cm (16 x 19 3/4 inch.).
Brazil. "Brasilia". Orig. copperplate engraving, J. Blaeu, 1640. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title cartouche wit a coat of arms and a cartouche with the scale of map with 3 cherubs. 38,5:50 cm.
Scotland. Bute. "Buthe Insula Vulgo The Yle of Boot". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1654. Original old colouring. 39,5:50,5 cm.
North Calabria. "Calabria citra olim Magna Graecia". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. 38:50 cm
Roman Campagna. "Campagna di Roma, olim Latium: Patrimonio di S. Pietro et Sabina". Orig. copperplate engraving. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche with a coat-of-arms, ornamental cartouche with the scale...
Crete. "Candia, olim Creta". Orig. copperplate engraving, J. and C. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title cartouche, 2 blank shields and 2 sailing ships. 38,5:53 cm.
Cambridgeshire. "Cantabrigiensis Comitatus. Cambridge shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche, the royal coat of arms, English coat of arms, 17 coats of arms of the colleges (plus a blank...
"Cantium Vernacule Kent". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With great figure title-cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica ... Germanicum"), English coat of arms, 7 family coats of arms and 5...
Scotland Kintyre. "Cantyra Chersonesus, Cantyr a Demie-yland". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map of the region. Published by J. Blaeu in Amstradam, 1654. Orig. old colouring. 41,5:50 cm.
Capitanata / Foggia. "Capitanata, olim Mesapiae et Iapygiae pars". Orig. copperplate engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1640. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche. 38:50 cm.
Capitanata / Foggia. "Capitanata, olim Mesapiae et Iapygiae pars". Orig. copperplate engraving. Published by P. Schenk and G. Valck in Amsterdam, ca. 1700. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche. 37,5:48,5 cm.
Scotland. Carrick. "Caricta Borealis Vulgo The north part of Carrick". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1654. Original old colouring. 42:52,5 cm.
Scotland. Carrick. "Carricta Meridionalis. The South part of Carrick". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1654. Original old colouring. 38,5:53 cm.
Elbe. "Celeberrimi Fluvii Albis nova delineatio". Orig. copperplate engraving after Ch. Moller's map. Published by J. Blaeu, 1659. Orig. old colouring. With ornament. title cartouche, another cartouch with dedication, scale of map and many ships. 31:53,5 cm.
"Comitatus Northantonensis, Vernacule Northamton shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglicana ...") and 2 cherubs, a...
"Comitatus Northumbria, Vernacule Northumberland". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title-cartouche held by 2 cherubs, a figure cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliar. Anglica quorum...
"Comitatus Nottinhghamiensis- Nottingham shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Octo Milliaria Anglica ...") and 2 cherubs, a...
"Cornubia. Sive Cornwallia". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche, 3 ships, royal and English coats of arms, coat of arms of Cornwall and a cartouche with 11 family coats of arms...
Delft. "Delfi Batavorum Vernacule Delft". Orig. copperplate engraving from J. Blaeu's Theatrum Urbium, 1649. With ornamental title-cartouche, another cartouche with explanatory notes (1.-40.) and 2 coats-of-arms. 38:48,5 cm (15 x 19 1/4 inch.).
"Devonia Vulgo Devon-shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, decorative cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica ...") and a cherub, royal coat of arms and a...
Tuscany. "Dominio Fiorentino". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1644. Orig. old colouring. 38:50 cm.
Veneto. "Dominio Veneto nell'Italia". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. and C. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1641. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche with 2 cherubs, another ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Italica ......
Mantua. "Ducato di Mantova". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. and W. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1640. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche and figure cartouche with the scale of map ("Scala di Miglia sei"). 38:49,5 cm.
Urbino. "Ducato di Urbino". Orig. copperplate engraving. Published by J. and W. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1640. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, another figure cartouche with the scale of map ("Scala di miglia undeci"), a wind-rose and 2 sailing...
"Ducato di Ferrara". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1644. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, a cartouche with the scale of map ("Scala di Miglia nove"), another cartouche with dedication (to Andrea...
"Episcopatus Dunelmensis. Vulgo The Bishoprike of Durham". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, a cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica ...") and a cherub, 5 ships,...
"Essexia Comitatus". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica ...") and 3 cherubs, 5 ships, royal and English coats of...
"Glamorganensis Comitatus- Vulgo Glamorgan shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica ..."), 3 ships, royal and...
"Glocestria Ducatus- Vulgo Glocester shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliar. Anglica ..."), royal and English coats of arms and a cartouche with...
Harlingen. "Harlingen". Orig. copperplate engraving, J. Blaeu, Theatrum Urbium Belgicae Regiae (Städtebuch), 1649. With figure title cartouche and 2 coats-of-arms. 39:50,5 cm.
"Hertfordia comitatus. Vernacule Hertfordshire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, another figure cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica quorum quatuor unum...
"Huntingdonensis Comitatus- Huntington shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With great figure title-cartouche and 13 coats of arms (incl. 10 family caots of arms held by 4 cherbus). 39,5:50 cm (15 1/2 x...
Cadore. "Il Cadorino". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by W. and J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1644. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche. 38:50cm.
China, Korea and Japan. "Imperii Sinarum Nova Descriptio". Orig. copperplate engraving after M. Martini's map of China. Published by J. Blaeu, 1655. Orig. old colouring. With great figure title cartouche. 46:60 cm.
Ischia. "Ischia Isola, olim Aenaria". Orig. copper-engraving after J. Jasolinus' map of Ischia. Published in Amsterdam by J. and C. Blaeu, 1641-42. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche, another 2 ornamental cartouches and 3 ships. 38:49,5...
"Leicestrensis comitatus. Leicester shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With ornamental title-cartouche, a cartouche with the scale of map ("Quatour milliaria Anglica ... Germanicum") and 8 cherubs,...
"Lincolnia Comitatus. Anglis Lincoln-shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title-cartouche with 2 cherubs holding a scale of map ("Octo Milliaria Anglica ... Germanica"), British and royal...
Leuven. "Lovanium vulgo Loven". Orig. copperplate engraving from J. Blaeu's Städtebuch, published 1649. With figure title-cartouche, architectonic cartouche with Explicatio (1-74) and 2 coats-of-ams. 37:49 cm (14 1/2 x 19 1/4 inch.).
Marche. "Marca d'Ancona olim Picenum". Orig. copper-engraving. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1644. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche. 41,5:51 cm.
Scotland. Berwickshire. "Mercia Vulgo Vicecomitatus Bervicensis. The Merce or Shirrefdome of Berwick". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1654. Original old colouring. 38,5:50 cm.
Isle of Man. "Mona". Orig. copperplate engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1646. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title cartouche, 2 coats of arms and 3 ships. 38,5:27,5 cm.
"Montgomeria Comitatus et Comitatus Mervinia". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche, another figure cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica quorum ... German."), British...
Scotland. Nithsdale. "Nithia Vicecomitatus. The Shirifdome of Nidis-Dail". Orig. copperplate engraving after T. Pont's map. Published by J. Blaeu in Amsterdam, 1654. 39:53,5 cm.
"Nordlandiae et quibies Gestricia et Helsingicae regiones". Copper-engraving by A. Bure published by J. Blaeu, ca. 1670. Original old colouring. With 2 coloured figure and heraldic cartouches and 2 coats-of-arms. 40,5:47 cm (16 x 18 1/2 inch.).
"Nortfolcia- Norfolke". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With decorative title-cartouche with 9 family coats of arms (including 2 blank shields), British and royal coats of arms and the scale of map...
Osnabrück."Osnabrugensis Episcopatus". Orig. old coloured copper-engraving from J. Blaeu's Atlas Mayor, 1662. With great title-cartouche with the view of the city of Osnabrück after Braun & Hogenberg ("Osenbrugge", 5,5:17 cm) and a figure, an ornamental...
"Oxonium Comitatus, Vulgo Oxford shire". Orig. copper-engraving, J. Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1645. Orig. old colouring. With figure title-cartouche with the scale of map ("Milliaria Anglica ..."), a cartouche with the royal coat of arms, another 2...
Paderborn. "Paderbornensis Episcopatus Descriptio Nova". Orig. old coloured copper-engraving after J. Gigas' map of the region from J. Blaeu's Atlas Mayor, ca. 1660. With great ornamental title-cartouche, ornamental cartouche with the scale of map, another...