The famous map depicting Anglo-Saxon Britain

BLAEU, Johannes.

Britannia prout divisa fuit temporibus Anglo-Saxonum presertim durante illorum Heptarchia.
Amsterdam, c1646, Latin text edition. Coloured. 415 x 530mm.

Two slight printer's creases.

A beautiful map of the 'Saxon Heptarchy', one of the most decorative maps of the British Isles. England is shown divided into the seven Saxon kingdoms with seven elaborate vignettes in full colour down the sides. On the left are full-length portraits of the Anglo Saxon founders of the kingdoms: on the right are the various methods used to convert their successors to Christianity, including violence and nagging.
Although it is based on John Speed's map of 1611, Blaeu has brought his more sophisticated style of engraving to the vignette scenes.


Stock ID : 23593