This handsome map of the British Isles is believed to be printed from the revised plate of Hondius' carte-a-figures map of 1630. Blaeu acquired a number of Jodocus Hondius' plates from Hondius' widow in 1629. As this map was too large to fit in Blaeu's atlas, it is presumed that he removed the surrounding panels. It is filled with minutely engraved topographical and political detail of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, and is inset with a small map of the Orkney Islands. The map appeared in many of the Blaeu atlases between 1634 and 1672 and was included in all editions of the Blaeu atlas of England and Wales from 1645 onwards. It is decorated with a lovely compass rose, and a decorative scale of miles and title cartouche. Three delicately engraved ships and a large sea monster complete the composition. French text on verso, published 1663-67.

References: Moreland & Bannister, p. 217; Shirley (BI to 1650) #423; Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #5000:2.2.

Condition: A

A nice impression in contemporary color on a sheet with a watermark of the god Atlas. There is a touch of soiling in the Orkney inset and light stains and toning in the blank margins.