Sign In

- Or use -
Forgot Password Create Account
This item has been sold, but you can enter your email address to be notified if another example becomes available.
Description

Rare map of the Blakans, from Istria and Albania along the coast and inland to the Danube River, from a composite atlas published by Abraham Wolfgang in Amsterdam.

Rare and important map of the Dalmatian region of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Blaeu's map depicting modern Illyria (Croatian and neighbouring lands) was originally engraved as one of 6 maps for De Regno Dalmatiae et Croatiae libri sex, written by Ivan Lucic of Trogir, former head of the Illyrian Colleg in Rome. The map first appeared in Amsterdam in 1666, without a dedication, and again in its final format in 1668, with a Latin dedication to Petar Zrinski (Petar de Zrin, Petro de Zrin), a count soon to be executed as a traitor of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, then led by of Leopold I of Habsburg.

For a detailed discussion of Blaeu's map, we recommend consulting Lorenzo Licini (1725-1802) Surveyor of Dalmatia and Count of Poljica as Rubcich, by Patrizia Licini (May 30, 2010): See: hrcak.srce.hr/file/93546

Petar Zrinski had succeeded his elder brother as Ban of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, and Ban of the Maritime Coast November 18, 1665. He also inherited the Croatian and Dalmatian titles of count de Zrin, Omiš (Almissa), Klis (Clissa), Skradin (Scardona), Bribir (Breberio). And he was free lord of Kostanjica southwest of Risan. He inherited the mining rights on the silver mines at Gvozdansko not far from Zrin Castle. He was hereditary captain of Legrad Fortress at the confluence of Mura River into Drava River, and of the whole peninsula of Me?imurje. Finally, he was councillor and chamberlain to His Imperial Majesty, Leopold I.

The map is one of six maps originally engraved by Joannes Blaeu to illustrate an historical work written by the Croatian historian, Ivan Lucius, head of the Illyrian College in Rome. This educational institution was charged with the preparation of Catholic priests from the Slavic population to counter Protestantism, re-establish a union with Orthodox Christians, and to preach in Ottoman territories. The map took over two years to prepare, incorporated a significant amount of local knowledge, and delineated the Slavic regions that made up contemporary Illyria.

Ivan Lucic participated in the conflict regarding the authenticity of the paper Cena Trimalchionis, written by the Roman satirist Petronius Arbiter, that was found in Trogir. Lucic published the history of his native town and his homeland in Venice, written in Italian under the title Memoriae istoriche di Tragurio, ora detto Traù - 'Historical testimony on Trogir'(1673). He also published a book on Roman inscriptions in Dalmatia, among them also inscriptions collected by Marko Marulic. Just before his death he prepared and finished for print the ' Statute of the town of Trogir'. Lucic died in Rome in 1679 and was buried there in the Croatian church of St. Jerome.

Lucic is the first Croatian historian who has critically approached and used historic sources: documents and chronicles, inscriptions and testaments. By the application of the methodology of historical work he greatly surpassed the time he lived and worked in. His historical work is characterized by his love for his birthplace and native land. He was particularly close to the family Zrinsky, and he convinced them that they had drawn their roots from the famous dukes Šubic from Bribir, and not from Roman aristocrats. He corresponded with many Ragusans, among them Stjepan Gradic, the director of the Vatican library. His numerous letters reveal a personal excellence both as a man and writer, and are a valuable contribution to the understanding of his time. Both in his scientific works and private letters, Lucic wrote simply, with forethought, clearly and lapidary. He has rightly been called father of modern Croatian historiography.

Condition Description
Old Color
Johannes Blaeu Biography

Joan, or Johannes, Blaeu (1596-1673) was the son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu. He inherited his father’s meticulous and striking mapmaking style and continued the Blaeu workshop until it burned in 1672. Initially, Joan trained as a lawyer, but he decided to join his father’s business rather than practice.

After his father’s death in 1638, Joan and his brother, Cornelis, took over their father’s shop and Joan took on his work as hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company. Joan brought out many important works, including Nova et Accuratissima Terrarum Orbis Tabula, a world map to commemorate the Peace of Westphalia which brought news of Abel Tasman’s voyages in the Pacific to the attention of Europe. This map was used as a template for the world map set in the floor of the Amsterdam Town Hall, the Groote Burger-Zaal, in 1655.

Joan also modified and greatly expanded his father’s Atlas novus, first published in 1635. All the while, Joan was honing his own atlas. He published the Atlas maior between 1662 and 1672. It is one of the most sought-after atlases by collectors and institutions today due to the attention to the detail, quality, and beauty of the maps. He is also known for his town plans and wall maps of the continents. Joan’s productivity slammed to a halt in 1672, when a fire completely destroyed his workshop and stock. Joan died a year later and is buried in the Westerkerk in Amsterdam.