BLAEU. *Atlas mayor, o geographia blaviana*. Containing maps - Lot 99

BLAEU. *Atlas mayor, o geographia blaviana*. Containing maps and descriptions of France and Helvetia. Amsterdam, Jan Blaeu, 1668. Large folio, stiff ivory-colored vellum Bradel binding with an overcover, double frame decorated with gilt scrolls, foliage motifs in the spandrels, a large gilt foliage motif in the center featuring a small world map in the middle, traces of lace, smooth, decorated spine, gilt edges (publisher’s binding). Volume VII, devoted to France and Switzerland, from the Spanish edition of Blaeu’s famous *Atlas maior*: this edition, published from 1659 to 1672 in 10 volumes, remained unfinished due to the fire that destroyed the Blaeu workshop in 1672, and is the rarest of all. Architectural title page and 65 (of 66) double-page maps, including 59 (of 60) for France and 6 for Switzerland. A very fine copy in the publisher’s gilt vellum, with delicate period coloring and gold highlights. The map of the Government of Lyon is missing. Lacks the 3 additional plates found in some copies. The double-page spread for the map and printed description of Sedan is heavily foxed (p. 317). Water damage along the edges of pp. 293 (map of Savoy) and 303 (map of Burgundy). Spine slightly soiled.

Estimate:£8,346.64

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