Frisia occidentalis Adriano Metio et Gerardo Freitag Auctoribus.

Title

Frisia occidentalis Adriano Metio et Gerardo Freitag Auctoribus.

Description

Map shows the province of Friesland in the Netherlands with the islands of Terschelling, Ameland, partly Vieland, the cities of Leeuwarden, Sneek, Dokkum, Harlingen, etc. with a title cartouche and the coat of arms of the province, a mileage indicator cartouche, a cartouche with index and a compass rose.

ca. 1610

Artist

Blaeu (1571-1638)

Joan Guilliemus Blaeu was the eldest son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), and was probably born in Alkmaar in the province of Noord-Holland in the final years of the 16th century. He was brought up in Amsterdam, and studied law at the University of Leiden before going into partnership with his father in the 1630s. Although his father Willem had cartographic interests, having studied under the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and having manufactured globes and instruments, his primary business was as a printer. It was under the control of Joan that the Blaeu printing press achieved lasting fame by moving towards the printing of maps and expanding to become the largest printing press in Europe in the 17th century. By the 1660s the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (or Atlas Maior as it had became known by this time) had expanded to between 9 and 12 volumes, depending on the language. With over 3,000 text pages and approximately 600 maps, it was the most expensive book money could buy in the later 17th century. The translation of the text from Latin into Dutch, English, German, French, and Spanish for several volumes created enormous work for those involved in typography and letterpress activities. It is estimated that over 80 men must have been employed full-time in the Blaeu printing house in Bloemgracht, not including engravers who worked elsewhere, with over 15 printing presses running simultaneously, and in 1667 a second press was acquired at Gravenstraat. At the same time as producing the Atlas Maior, Blaeu was also publishing town plans of Italy, maps for globes, and other volumes. At its peak the Blaeu press managed to produce over 1 million impressions from 1,000 copper plates within four years.

Historical Description

Friesland or Greater Friesland has long been the name given to the Frisian settlement areas that stretch along the Dutch and German North Sea coasts. The Inter-Frisian Council, which represents all Frisian interests, speaks of the Three Frieslands. This refers to Westerlauwers' Friesland, which essentially comprises the Dutch province of Friesland, eastern Friesland with the Frisian settlement areas from the Ems to the Weser estuary and the Schleswig-Holstein region of North Friesland including the island of Helgoland. The province of Friesland, Westlauwers'sche Friesland, belongs to the Netherlands. An early culture with settlements on terps (terps) developed in Friesland around 400 to 200 BC. The Romans called the inhabitants Frisii. In the 8th century, Friesland became part of the Frankish Empire and was Christianized. During the Middle Ages, Friesland was incorporated piece by piece by the Counts of Holland. After a period of independence in the 15th century, Friesland returned to Holland and came under Habsburg rule. From 1581, it had a relatively independent status within the Republic of the Seven United Provinces. It was one of the few provinces by the sea to have its own Admiralty of Friesland. Friesland became part of the Batavian Republic in 1795, the Napoleonic Kingdom of Holland in 1806 and the French Empire in 1810. Since 1815, Friesland has been a province of the newly established Kingdom of the Netherlands.