This copy of Johannes Blaeu’s Nova et Accuratissima Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula, Amsterdam, 1662, will be priced at £20,000 at the London Map Fair by the Altea Gallery. The double-hemisphere world map was drawn up by Blaeu to replace the map first issued by his father Willem in 1606 and used in their atlases from 1630. This example is probably coloured by one of the most famous Dutch colourists, Dirk Janszoon van Santen.
Twentieth century cartographic material has become an important part of what’s on offer at the London Map Fair, now the largest as well as the oldest specialist map fair in the world.
Held annually at the Royal Geographical Society near the South Kensington museums, this year’s event takes place on the weekend of June 17-18, and with over 40 international exhibitors it is one of the best places to handle a wide range of material and meet expert dealers.