A classic collector's map of Bermuda in original colour

BLAEU, Willem Janszoon.

Mappa aestivarum Insularum Alias Barmudas.
Amsterdam, c.1640, Latin edition. Original colour. 400 x 530mm.

A large paper example of this fine map of the islands, based on Richard Norwood's map as published by John Speed in 1627.
The plate has an interesting history: it was engraved by Jodocus Hondius II, the son of the Jodocus Hondius who engraved the Speed plates and republished the Mercator atlas. When Jodocus II died in 1629 the plate was sold to Blaeu, forcing the Hondius firm to have another plate engraved.
A miniature version of the island has been inserted just under the title cartouche to show the position of the islands against the American mainland, seen across the top of the map. This led later cartographers, including Moll, Le Rouge and Zatta (in 1778!) to include the miniature as an extra island.

KOEMAN: Bl 2; PALMER: p.8, plate III.
Stock ID : 21369