num_pages: 224
description: Johannes Blaeu's  The Atlas Major, first issued in 1662, was the largest atlas ever published. Its 600 or so maps, richly embellished and decorated, portrayed the 17th-century world with its great empires, far off kingdoms, and lands of legend. The most expensive book sold in the 17th century, the  Atlas was a great showpiece of the Amsterdam mapmaker's art. It was presented to kings and emperors and was purchased by wealthy noblemen and merchants to display in their homes and impress their rivals. Extant copies still command prices at auction well beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest collectors; but this edition, reproduced from the volume held in the map room of the Royal Geographical Society in London, is amazingly affordable. Includes 100 of Blaeu's most important maps with an informative introduction and notes by John Goss, the former cartographic consultant at Sotheby's. 11" x 15". Color maps.
language: English
title: Blaeu's the Grand Atlas of the 17th Century World Hb
publisher: Barnes & Noble