The Greatest Atlas Ever Published

Eclectic book publisher Taschen reprints Joan Labeu's 1665 "Atlas Maior", one of history's finest examples of mapmaking. [Includes 6 photos.]

1 minute read

September 7, 2005, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"The finest and most comprehensive baroque atlas was Joan Blaeu's exceptional Atlas Maior, completed in 1665. The original 11-volume Latin edition, containing 594 maps, put Blaeu ahead of his staunch competitor, mapmaker Johannes Janssonius, whose rivalry inspired Blaeu to produce a grandiose edition of the largest and most complete atlas to date. Covering Arctica, Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, Blaeu's Atlas Maior was a remarkable achievement and remains to this day one of history's finest examples of mapmaking."

FULL STORY: Atlas Maior

Wednesday, September 7, 2005 in Taschen

History / Preservation World

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