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Blaeuw, JW

Name: Willem Janszoon Blaeuw

Nickname/Alias: born: Willem Janszoon ; Latin name, Coesius

Achievements: Map-making

Born: 1571; probably in Alkmaar, Holland

Died: October 21, 1638; Amsterdam, Holland (Aged 67)

Field & Discipline: Mathematics; Cartography

Language: Dutch

Father: Unknown

Mother Unknown

Siblings: Unknown

Spouse: Marytje Cornelisdochter (m. c. 1598)

Children: Joannes (d. 1673); Cornelius (d. 1650)

Education: Unknown

Major Work:

“New Atlas” (1634-45)

Life & Times:

Blaeuw spent his early working years studying to be a clerk in the Amsterdam office of his cousin Cornelius Pieterszoon Hooft, a herring merchant.  His dislike of the job led Blaeuw to study mathematics and astronomy, and in 1594, at the age of 23, he became a student of the famous astronomer [taught by] Brahe* at his observatory on the island of Hven between Denmark and Sweden.

In 1596, Blaeuw returned to Amsterdam and set up in business first as a globe and instrument maker. During the years 1596-99 he constructed a celestial globe for Brahe, featuring all Brahe’s astronomical discoveries marked in gold, and those of the classical astronomers in white.

From 1596 Blaeuw's major output was of terrestrial and celestial globes, issued in pairs in various sizes, and of fine navigational and astronomical instruments. In constant contact with merchants and navigators passing through Amsterdam, the heart of the powerful and wealthy Dutch Empire, Blaeuw was well informed of the latest discoveries made during a time when Holland was beginning to send its fleets to Asia, Africa, America and the Arctic Ocean, and interest in cartography was increasing rapidly.

Blaeuw's first commercial terrestrial globe dates from 1599, and his first celestial one from 1602. Blaeuw was also an active astronomer, credited with the identification, in 1600 and 1604, of two previously undiscovered stars.

In 1604 Blaeuw turned to the publication of maps and charts, his first map, of the Seventeen Dutch Provinces, being followed by other, single-sheet maps of various European countries, including one of Spain.   In 1605 came his first world map, “Nova universi terrarum orbis mappa,” published on 20 sheets totalling some 8 feet across.  This map was outstanding in its design and, in spite of some inaccuracies, proved to be the best of its period, remaining the prototype world map used by most map makers until superseded by his son Joannes Blaeuw's world map of 1648.

Blaeuw's next major publication was the sea atlas (“Light of Navigation,” 1608), compiled of European coast charts with a text based on first-hand accounts by experienced seamen giving detailed information on buoys, beacons, tides, currents, soundings, and anchorages around the world as well as 189 coastal "views.”

Although this volume was advertised as the first of four, the three other volumes planned to cover the coasts of all non-European countries were never published. This European sea atlas was popular with sailors, and was reissued many times, in 1623 being replaced by his “Der Zeespiegel,” an updated work containing over 100 charts.

During these years Blaeuw continued producing maps, as well as printing books.  He also published scientific, classical and literary works, including a controversial edition of [published edition of] Copernicus'*  “De Revolutionibus” (1616) - and producing many scientific instruments, including the huge 210-centimetre quadrant for the Leyden Observatory, used by [made instrument used by] Snell* in the development of his method of triangulation in 1617. During the 1620s Blaeuw moved his printing presses to a new and larger premises at the

Damrak, where he began to publish other cartographer’s maps, including those based on the work of the famous Flemish mapmakers [used work of] Ortelius* and [used work of] Mercator*,  and where he developed a new printing press,  the first improvement on [improved design of] Gutenberg's* original design.

In 1630 Blaeuw published his first land atlas, to replace the Mercator-Hondius atlas (which in turn had replaced that of Ortelius), which was the most popular early 17th-century atlas on the market. In 1629 Blaeuw had bought about 40 of Mercator's map plates from the family of Jodicus Hondius.  These formed the bulk of Blaeuw's world map, were titled the “Atlantis Appendix” (1630), and included many of the single-sheet maps issued by Blaeuw over the previous 15 or 20 years.

Joannes Blaeuw worked with his father on enlarging the “Appendix” in 1631, and then publishing its replacement, the “New Atlas” in 1634-35, in two volumes containing more than 200 maps.

In 1633, Blaeuw was appointed official cartographer to the [cartographer to] Dutch East India Company*.

Extra Connections: His work influenced that of [influenced] Dudley*

Assessment:  Blaeuw’s work  reflected the finest features of Dutch map making at a time when the Dutch Empire was at the height of its wealth and power.

Oneliner: Willem Blaeuw,  early map maker

Bibliography:

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