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Description

"Sclavonia, Croatia, Bosnia, cum Dalmatiae cum Dalmatiae Parte . . ." is a highly detailed map of a segment of the Balkans, created by Willem Janszoon Blaeu and published in Amsterdam circa 1640. The map includes the present-day territories of Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, and parts of Serbia and Montenegro.

As a product of the Golden Age of Dutch Cartography, this map exemplifies the skill and precision for which Blaeu and his contemporaries were renowned. The region's geography and topography are meticulously depicted, providing an insight into the contemporary understanding of the Balkan landscape. Given the turbulent history of the area, such a document serves as an important record of its geopolitical context in the mid-17th century.

The map is more than a geographical representation; it is also a work of art. Adorned with a beautifully illustrated title cartouche and three coats of arms, it exemplifies the aesthetic standards of Dutch cartography during this era. These decorative elements do not merely serve an aesthetic function but are also symbolic of the region's political divisions and allegiances.

This map's intricate detailing extends to its representation of various geographical features, from mountains and rivers to towns and cities. Such granularity not only speaks to the cartographer's meticulousness but also makes the map a valuable resource for understanding the region's historical geography.

Condition Description
Original hand-color in outline. Minor mat stain and a small stain in the lower left corner.
Willem Janszoon Blaeu Biography

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.