Willem Blaeu

Willem Janszoon Blaeu (* 1571 in Alkmaar, Netherlands, † 1638 in Amsterdam, also Guilielmus Janssonius caesius, Guiljelmus Blaeuw, Willem Jansz, Willems Jans Zoon, Guilielmus or G. Blaeu ) was a Dutch cartographer and publisher.

Life

Blaeu was born in 1571 in Uitgeest at Alkmaar. From 1594 to 1596 he studied astronomy and cartography at Tycho Brahe. In 1600 he discovered the variable star P Cygni. To 1603, he settled in Amsterdam, where he began to produce globes. Soon he also created maps and charts, including in 1605 a world map.

In 1629, he managed to acquire a number of printing plates from the estate of Jodocus Hondius. This served him to surrender their own Atlas. 37 Of the original 60 cards came from the Hondius estate. On all plates the name Hondius was replaced by the Blaeu.

In 1633 he was appointed kaartenmaker van de Republiek, and he was so official cartographer of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). He created a comprehensive map series, and also published works by Willibrord van Roijen Snell ( Snell ), Adriaan Metius, Gerhard Johannes Vossius and Pieter Hooft Corneliszoon.

He died in 1638 in Amsterdam.

His son Joan Blaeu (1596-1673) continued its operation. After the destruction of the workshop fire in Amsterdam in 1672 and the death of Joan Blaeu in the following year the publishing house founded by Willem Blaeu was finally dissolved in 1698.

Willem Janszoon Blaeu is not to be confused with the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, who lived at the same time.

Works

• Novus Atlas, that's a world description / engraved with beautiful Newen außführlichen land Taffeln in Kupffer and on the day given by Guil. and Iohannem Blaeu. - Amsterdami: Blaeu, 1641/42 - Second band as Digitized edition of the University and State Library Dusseldorf