Blaeu's Decorative Map of Britain with Vignettes of Saxon History

"Britannia Prout Divisa Suit Temporibus Anglo-Saxonum, Praesertim Durante Illorum Heptarchia", Blaeu, Johannes

This magnificent map of Anglo-Saxon Britain is flanked by elaborate vignettes depicting kings and scenes from Saxon history. The scenes are identical in subject matter to those used by John Speed; however, they are presented in the dramatic, Dutch miniature style. The left border contains portraits of the earliest kings, while the right one depicts later kings in the process of conversion to Christianity. Included is a scene of Ethelbert receiving instruction from Saint Augustine and another of Sebert re-consecrating the temples of Diana and Apollo, now St. Paul's, London and St. Peters', Westminster. The map shows England, Scotland, and Wales divided into the various Saxon kingdoms, each decorated with its coat-of-arms. A superb example of Dutch cartographic design and engraving. Latin text on verso, published between 1646-62 in either Theatrum Orbis Terrarum sive Atlas Novus Pars Quarta or Geographiae Blavianae Volumen Quintum.

References: Shirley (BI to 1650) #549; Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #5000H:2B.

Condition: B+

A sharp impression on watermarked paper with light toning primarily along the map border from a previous framing.