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This attractive map of Eastern Africa depicts the fictitious kingdom of Prester John, a legendary Christian monarch whose myth was rooted in Crusader lore. The map spans a significant portion of central and eastern Africa, from Mozambique in the south to present-day Sudan in the north. It is richly detailed, featuring numerous rivers, villages, and settlements. The cartography is highly embellished with illustrations of elephants, ostriches, and other native animals, contributing to the visual appeal of the piece. A decorative cartouche further enhances the map's ornate presentation.
In the lower section of the map, the two Ptolemaic lakes, Zaire and Zaflan, are prominently displayed. Additionally, Lake Niger is depicted with the supposed course of the Niger River flowing westward, reflecting the speculative geography of the period. The map is based on Ortelius' 1573 depiction of Prester John's kingdom, a testament to the enduring myth of a benevolent Christian ruler in Africa who was believed to be waging his own crusade against the enemies of Christianity.
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was a prominent Dutch geographer and publisher. Born the son of a herring merchant, Blaeu chose not fish but mathematics and astronomy for his focus. He studied with the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, with whom he honed his instrument and globe making skills. Blaeu set up shop in Amsterdam, where he sold instruments and globes, published maps, and edited the works of intellectuals like Descartes and Hugo Grotius. In 1635, he released his atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive, Atlas novus.
Willem died in 1638. He had two sons, Cornelis (1610-1648) and Joan (1596-1673). Joan trained as a lawyer, but joined his father’s business rather than practice. After his father’s death, the brothers took over their father’s shop and Joan took on his work as hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company. Later in life, Joan would modify and greatly expand his father’s Atlas novus, eventually releasing his masterpiece, the Atlas maior, between 1662 and 1672.
![IX. b [East Africa]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/93300.jpg)
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