A scarce, separate-issue map of the British Isles with decorative borders

VISSCHER, Claes Janszoon.

Tabula Magnae Britanniae continens Angliam Scotiam, et Hiberniam nuperrimè edita per Nicolaum Joannis Visscher.
Amsterdam, Nicholaes Janszoon Visscher, c.1650. Coloured. 460 x 545mm.

Trimmed to printed border, margins replaced, repairs to centre fold, laid on archival paper.

A superbly-decorated carte-à-figure map of the British Isles. The borders contain: prospects of London and Edinburgh; plans of Newcastle, Cambridge, Canterbury, York, Oxford, Galway, Dublin, Norwich, Bristol and Chester; portrait of Elizabeth I and James I; eight costume vignettes of the English, Scots and Irish; and the arms of James I, England, Scotland and Ireland.
The map had a long life: it engraved by Abraham Goos and first issued c.1623; it was reissued with the dates of 1630 & 1650 (as this example); a fourth state saw the borders beaten out so the map could be extended, with more modern decorations; and finally c.1679 with Visscher's name removed.
The map was highly influential: it was immediately copied by Jodocus Hondius II, whose plate was one of those bought by Willem Blaeu to incorporate into his own atlas.

SHIRLEY: British Isles 670 & 384 for the original issue. SHIRLEY: British Isles 1650-1750, Visscher 1. for list of states.
Stock ID : 23728