A finely-coloured copy of the Blaeus' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in its largest, six-volume form, one of the crowning cartographic achievements of the 17th century. Previously held in the library of an Austrian noble, Heinrich von Gudenus (1839-1915).

Willem Blaeu was the official cartographer for the Dutch East India Company whose first world atlas was published in 1630 with the title Atlas Appendix, featuring 60 maps. Building on this in the following years until a single volume was no longer able to accommodate all of his work, Blaeu first published under the title Theatrum Orbis Terrarum sive Novus Atlas in a two-volume edition featuring over 200 maps in 1634-1635, with versions in German, Latin, French, and Dutch, echoing the title of Abraham Ortelius' landmark 1570 atlas to signal his own credibility. His son, Joan, continued to expand the atlas after his death in 1638; the third volume completing the known world was published in 1640, followed by a fourth covering England & Wales in detail in 1645, a fifth devoted to Scotland in 1654, and a sixth on China in 1655.

6 vols, folio (51 x 32.5 cm); text in Latin, 7 engraved titles & 408 engraved maps, numerous in-text woodcuts & engravings, maps, engraved titles & text illustrations in fine original colour, a few heightened with gold; original publisher's vellum with yapp edges, panelled in gilt with central arabesque, flat spines in eight compartments, numbered in ink manuscript and decorated with fleur-de-lys corner pieces enclosing a rose tool, gilt edges, remnants of ties.

Vol. I: Theatrvm Orbis terrarum, sive Atlas Novus; in quo Tablae et Descriptiones omnium Regionum. [Northern and Eastern Europe, Germania and the Low Countries.] Engraved title with printed overslip dated 1635, 120 engraved maps, all but one double-page, of which 5 folding. Part 2, ['The Low Countries'], bound before Part 1. Part 1 lacking the half-title and 2 leaves of text ('Lectori' and laudatory poem), Part 2 lacking engraved title page. Leaves 2*1-2, D1 of introduction and gathering Z1-2 with extensive marginal repairs, some other leaves with minor repair, chiefly to corners. Leaf 'Litaniae Descriptio Summa' supplied from the 1640 edition [2:201.1C] with signature 'V' erased and foliation altered in ink manuscript from '23' to '28'. Folding map of Dniepr River bound after map 'Karstia'. Occasional light browning and spotting.

Vol. II: [France and Spain, and the continents.] 2 engraved titles, 92 double-page engraved maps. The general engraved title with printed overslip for Vol. I, Part 2, ['The Low Countries'], the engraved title for Part 2, ['Spain and the Continents'] with printed overslip dated 1645. Map 'Biscaia & Gvipvscoa' trimmed at lower right hand corner margin. Corner loss to lower right hand margin of leaf 2P.

Vol. III: Theatrvm Orbis terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Pars Tertia. [Italy and Greece with supplements.] Engraved title with printed overslip dated 1645 and 66 maps, all but 3 double-page. Small chip to top edge margin of map 'Territorio di Trento'. Leaf (3E) unsigned with signature in ink as seen by Van der Krogt. Leaf 2G with signature in ink also. Some light browning throughout (as usual). A little staining to top edge of upper board.

Vol. IV: Theatrvm Orbis terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Pars Quarta. [England.] Engraved title with printed overslip dated 1645, 58 maps, all but one double-page, with 3 engraved in-text views. Lacking one leaf of text ('Dedication to King Charles by Iohannes Blaeu'). Marginal tear to leaf 7C2. Variable browning to most maps (as usual). Spine bumped at foot.

Vol. V: Theatrvm Orbis terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Pars Quinta. [Scotland and Ireland.] Engraved title with printed overslip dated 1654, 55 double-page maps. Maps 'Caricta Borealis' and 'Glottiana' with corner loss to lower right-hand margin. Map 'Extima Scotiae' with marginal repaired tear, and minor repair to leaf 2V. Maps 'Lauderdale', 'Galloway', and 'Moravia' lightly browned. Some variable light spotting.

Vol. VI: Theatrvm Orbis terrarum, sive Atlas Novus. Pars Sexta. [China.] Engraved title and 17 double-page maps. Variable browning throughout (as usual).

Van der Krogt II, 2:202.1GH; 2:202.2H; 2:202.3H; 2:301Ha; 2:401Qc; 2:501A