Art

An unusual map of the 'Fenland' regions of East Anglia. The Fens are a naturally marshy region in eastern England. Most of the fens were drained several centuries ago, resulting in a flat, damp, low-lying agricultural region. This map encompasses Cambridge in the west to Kings Lynn and Boston (via Ely) in the east, to Peterborough in the north. The map is embellished with a rococo style mileage scale, a royal coat of arms, and a wonderful title cartouche in the lower right corner. The Atlas Mayor (the Spanish edition of the Atlas Maior) is the rarest edition of what De la Fontaine Verwey called "the greatest and finest atlas ever published". The Spanish edition was never completed. When fire destroyed the Blaeu printing house at the Gravenstraat in Amsterdam in 1672, the final volume was in the press and consequently lost. Size: 560 x 650 mm. Copperplate engraving in full original colour, partially heightened in gold. Fine condition.