The 1600’s is known in mapping circles as the Golden Age of Dutch Cartography. Explorers and traders traveling the globe gained geographic knowledge with every voyage. Art, cartography and commerce joined together to created some of the world’s most beautiful maps.
In 1570, Geradus Mercator created the 1st book of maps and gave it the name “Atlas”. Well known today for his eponymous projection, Mercator used maps drawn to the same scale and size. However, although technically well done, it was not a commercial success because it was “plain”. Jodocus Hondius would later obtain the plates and add illustrations for the “armchair traveler” who wanted a lot more cultural information. Maps became status symbols of knowledge and power.
In 1660, a consortium of Dutch sugar merchants led by Johannes Klencke were hoping to influence the newly restored English King Charles II. He had spent previous years in the Netherlands and it was known, that Charles II loved maps. The consortium were looking for trading opportunities as well as social advantages with the English. The book is a composite of 41 wall sized maps with authors like Joan Blaeu.
Today, the atlas is still in very good condition, it is digitized and the 2nd largest in the British Library. The Klencke Atlas was surpassed in size by the Earth Platinum in 2012.
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