Part 1
PUBLICATIONS OF THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA
No. 85
[Illustration: Willem Janszoon Blaeu. 1571-1638
(J. Falck _sculp._)]
WILLEM JANSZOON BLAEU
1571-1638
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND WORK
WITH AN ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIS
LARGE WORLD MAP OF 1605
FACSIMILE
OF THE UNIQUE COPY BELONGING TO
THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA
EIGHTEEN SHEETS WITH KEY PLATE
BY
EDWARD LUTHER STEVENSON, PH.D.
[Illustration: THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA]
NEW YORK 1914
Copyright, 1914, by THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
WILLEM JANSZOON BLAEU 11
WORLD MAP OF 1605 51
BIBLIOGRAPHY 61
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BLAEU’S PRINCIPAL GEOGRAPHICAL PUBLICATIONS 65
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Willem Janszoon Blaeu. 1571-1638 (J. Falck, _sculp._) _Frontispiece_
Facing Page
Island of Hveen, showing the location of Uranienburg. From Le Grand Atlas 12
Press invented by Blaeu. From Johnson, J. Typographia 16
Interior of Tycho Brahe’s Observatory at Uranienburg. From Le Grand Atlas 30
Terrestrial globe and celestial globe, 1616. Willem Janszoon Blaeu 44
World Map from Toonneel des Aerdrycx, by Willem Janszoon Blaeu 52
Printer’s mark of the Blaeu Press [tail-piece, page 59].
WILLEM JANSZOON BLAEU
1571-1638
WILLEM JANSZOON BLAEU AND HIS WORLD MAP OF 1605
Willem Janszoon Blaeu, one of Holland’s most distinguished map and globe makers of the early seventeenth century, was born at the village of Alkmaar in the year 1571; such is the record which finds general acceptance.[1]
Of his childhood nothing is known. It was some time in his early boyhood days that he went to Amsterdam, where he found employment, it appears at first, in the house of a Holland merchant, and later as a joiner’s apprentice. We can be certain neither of the time when he decided to leave Amsterdam, nor of the circumstances which induced him to visit the island of Hveen, then belonging to Denmark,[2] an event of much significance in his life. We, however, cannot be far wrong in asserting the promptings for this visit to have been his early liking for mathematical, geographical and astronomical studies. On this island he was brought into intimate relations with Tycho Brahe, the famous Danish astronomer, who, in 1576, established here his observatory at the Castle of Uranienburg.[3] For near a quarter of a century, this was one of the most famous centers in all Europe for the study of astronomical science and of its practical applications. Blaeu, let it be noted, was not the first of the young Netherlanders who found his way to Uranienburg that he might receive astronomical instructions from the great master. As early as 1591, Jacob Florent van Langren of Amsterdam sent his son Arnold to the Danish astronomer with a request that he might be allowed to copy the catalogue of the stars which had been located at his observatory, wishing to make use of the same in the new celestial globes which he proposed to construct. This special request, we are informed, was not granted, for Brahe’s records were not yet complete, but young van Langren was given permission to see the large celestial globe which was in the observatory, and on which at the time of the visit 800 stars had been represented.[4] It is stated that Tycho often had as many as ten or twelve boys at his observatory as his assistants.
[Illustration: Island of Hveen, showing the location of Uranienburg. From Le Grand Atlas]
We have but little direct information concerning Blaeu’s sojourn at Uranienburg. It appears certain that he passed at least two years with Brahe, engaged the while in study and in the construction of mathematical and astronomical instruments. May 21, 1596, the day of the young Hollander’s departure for his native land, Brahe made the following entry in his day-book, which book may be found in the Imperial Library of Vienna, “Abiit domum in Hollandiam, Vilhelmus Batavius cum per integram hyemen his fuisset,” and by Gassendi we are told that Guilielmus Janssonius had been with Tycho for two years, although he does not make it certain that it was for two consecutive years. That the relations between the two distinguished scientists continued to be of the most friendly character long after the date given above is very certain, as not a few of those who in later years in praising Blaeu’s scientific attainments refer to him as “the pupil and longtime friend of Brahe,” yet neither of them appears in his writings to have made more than a passing allusion to their relations.[5]
It cannot be doubted that Blaeu owed to his abode on the island of Hveen the real foundation of his scientific knowledge, both in the field of geography and of astronomy, as well as his knowledge of the construction and the skilful use of mathematical instruments. We have reason for believing that a number of the instruments which served the great astronomer in his investigations, were the work of Blaeu, and it is an interesting fact, as we know, that Brahe’s observations, here made, formed the basis for Kepler’s calculations, leading him to the discovery of the laws which immortalized his name.
It was perhaps late in the year 1596, or early in 1597, that Blaeu returned to Amsterdam where he soon established himself as a maker of mathematical instruments, of maps and of globes, and as an engraver and printer.
Before the close of the seventeenth century, the Netherlands had moved into the first rank of European states in which the art of engraving and of printing flourished. Nothing perhaps contributed more to this end, especially in the north, than the freedom which there prevailed untrammeled by the restraints of the Index.
As for the particular art of map engraving and map printing, the work of Mercator, of Ortelius, of Waghenaer, had centered the attention of those interested in this field upon the Low Countries. As early as 1541, not to mention his work of the preceding decade, Mercator issued his terrestrial globe gores, which mark a decided advance in the art of map engraving, and this was followed by his large map of England, of Europe, and of the World, the latter setting forth the new method of projection since known as Mercator’s projection. Ortelius’s great work of 1570, with its numerous succeeding issues, Waghenaer’s Mirror of Navigation of 1585, and Mercator’s book of maps of 1585, for which collection as a title the name Atlas was first used, were superior productions, models for those who followed closely within the same field.
Blaeu acknowledged these men to be his masters, though, as was also frequently the case with other map makers and map engravers of his day, he occasionally forgot to assign proper credit to those from whom he borrowed in the cartographical work that issued from his press.
We are told that Tycho had given to Blaeu a copy of his astronomical observations before their publication, that this copy was carried to Amsterdam, and that on the record contained therein the latter began the practice of globe making. The implication contained in this reference is that his first work as a globe maker was the preparation of material for a celestial globe, but no such globe of his is known bearing date earlier than 1602. His first dated work appears to have been a terrestrial globe of the year 1599. It was as a maker and vender of mathematical instruments, as a collector and close student of maps geographical and astronomical, he probably found his chief employment during the first years after his return to the Netherlands. There is good reason for thinking that from the first he prospered in his undertakings, and that he was soon in a position to establish an independent business. It may be inferred from incidental references that it was not long after 1600 he was in his own fully equipped house engaged in the business of engraving and printing.
Blaeu seems not to have become a member of any of the guilds in his adopted city, and we, therefore, cannot turn to their records for any information concerning his activities. His name first publicly appears in the records of the States General for the year 1605, in a resolution proposing that a sum of money should be granted to him for printing and publishing a NIEUW GRAETBOUCK, a name given at that time in the Netherlands to a book containing declination tables. This resolution reads as follows: “19 Maart 1605. Is Willem Jansz Blaeu tot Amsterdam geaccordeert octroy, omme voor den tyt van 6 jaren naestcomende alleene in de vereenichde provincien in druck vuyt to geven een bouxken, geintituleert: Nieuw graetbouck, nae den ouden styl vuyt de aldercorrecste observatien van den vermaerden astronomo Tycho Brahe, gecalculeert ende gestelt op ten meridiaen deser Nederlanden, enz.”[6] A copy of this work does not appear to be extant, but we may be able, as Baudet suggests, to obtain something of an idea of its character from later publications of Blaeu, as for instance from his “Licht der Zeevaert.”
On his “Paescarte,” one of his early publications, and usually referred to the year 1606, we read that it was “Ghedruckt t’ Amsterdam bij Willem Janssoon op’t Waeter inde Sonnewijser,” a location often referred to in certain later publications as “op’ t water In de vergulde Sonnewyser,” reference being to the gilded sun-dial which as a business sign adorned the gable of his establishment.[7] It appears that in this originally selected locality his work was carried on until the year 1637, when his entire plant was moved into more commodious quarters in the Blumengracht, one year only before his death. On the death of Willem Blaeu, in 1638, the business passed into the hands of his sons John and Cornelius Blaeu. In 1672 practically the entire establishment was destroyed by fire.
[Illustration: Typographia....501
PRESS INVENTED BY BLAEW.
From Johnson, J. Typographia]
For his ability and attainments as a practical printer Willem Blaeu is especially entitled to great honor. He labored on for many years in Amsterdam, making use of such presses as were commonly to be found in the printing houses of his own and of other lands. Finding, however, numerous inconveniences attending the structure of these oldtime presses, he was induced, about 1620, to contrive remedies.[8] In this, we are told, he succeeded beyond his expectations, so much indeed that he had nine of the new presses constructed, each of which he called by the name of one of the Muses. The excellence of Blaeu’s improvements soon becoming known to other printing houses, their proprietors were induced to follow his example, and presses of his design became, in the course of a few years, almost general throughout the Low Countries, and were introduced into England, though at first there was here much opposition to his new ideas. While the description below is that of the Blaeu establishment as it was under the management of the son John, yet as it presents to us the printing house founded by the father, Willem Blaeu, and describes a printing house of the middle of the seventeenth century, it is here cited in free translation.
“On the Blumengracht,” says Filips von Zesen, in his description of the city of Amsterdam,[9] “near the third bridge, and the third alley, may be found the greatly renowned printing house of John Blaeu, Counsellor and Magistrate, of this city. It is furnished with nine type presses, named after the nine Muses, six presses for copperplate printing, and a type foundry. The entire establishment on the canal, with the adjoining house, in which the proprietor lives, is 75 feet in breadth, and stretches along the east side of a cross street 135 feet, or with the attached house 150 feet. Fronting on the canal is a room with cases in which the copper plates are kept, from which the Atlases, the Book of the Cities of the Netherlands and of foreign countries, also the Mariners’ Atlases and other choice books are printed, and which must have cost a ton of gold. Next to this first room is a press room used for plate printing, and opening upon the cross street referred to above is a place where the type, from which impressions have been made, are washed; then follows in order the room for book printing, which resembles a long hall with numerous windows on either side. In the extreme rear is a room in which the type and certain other materials used in printing are stored. Opposite this store room is a stairway leading to a small room above which is set apart for the use of the proof-readers, where first and second impressions are carefully looked over, and the errors corrected which have been made by the typesetters. In front of this last designated room is a long table or bench on which the final prints are placed as soon as they are brought from the press, and where they are left for a considerable time. In the story above is a table for the same purpose just indicated, at the extreme end of which, and over the room occupied by the proof-readers, is the type foundry wherein the letters used in the printing of the various languages are moulded.
The foundation of this splendid building was laid in the year 1636, by John Blaeu’s oldest son Willem Blaeu,[10] and on the 13th of the fall month of the following year the printing establishment was here set in order. The original founder of the printing house, who died in the following year, was John Blaeu’s art loving father Willem, who, for a considerable time, had been a pupil of the great astronomer Tycho Brahe, whom he zealously followed, constructing many instruments for the advancement of astronomical studies, for the promotion of the art of navigation, and of other sciences of like character, an interest in all of which he revived and furthered while at the same time he made new discoveries, as has become widely known from the publications which have issued from this printing house.
But why should we here give to them such unbounded praise? Since father and son without eulogy from us are so well known to the entire learned world, to which they have presented such treasures of inestimable value through their incomparable pains and at great cost, and are so far advanced on the road to immortality, it is more becoming in us to remain silent than to speak further concerning them.”
Before turning for a reference more in detail to the publications which were issued by the Blaeu press, to a consideration of Willem Blaeu’s most important work as engraver, as globe maker, as printer and publisher of maps and navigators’ charts, a further brief word may be said touching certain general interests and activities of his, touching certain personal relations and individual characteristics, which support the conclusion that he was a man justly held in the highest esteem by men of science of his day, and that he was interested in whatever pertained to his great field of study.
Reference has been made to Blaeu’s ability as a maker of mathematical and astronomical instruments, which work claimed more or less of his attention to the end of his days. The fact, however, is a very remarkable one that from the many years of activity as an instrument maker with Tycho Brahe, and independently at Amsterdam, but one example of his should have come down to us. Vossius says that “no other scholar ever deserved so much praise as Blaeu on account of an extraordinary and beautiful quadrant, which can be seen at Leyden in the tower, where astronomical observations are being made.”[11] His reference is to a quadrant now kept in the Leyden Observatory. It is described by Kayser in his Annals of the Observatory as a wooden quadrant, with a brass rim, having a radius of seven feet.[12] In the year 1632 it was purchased from the estate of Willebrod Snellius, and may be said to have induced the founding of this observatory in the year 1633.
With the conscientious map makers the problem was ever present, how shall accuracy in space relations, accuracy in location of places on the map be attained. Ptolemy had been a guide in the earlier years of great geographical discoveries and explorations, but geographical knowledge soon extended to regions beyond those known to Ptolemy, and the inaccuracies of his records, even for those regions more or less familiar to the ancients, became very apparent. In the maps of the seventeenth century we have interestingly exhibited the tortuous advance of geographical knowledge. They do not show a steady and continuous progress toward accuracy. Information which may have been accepted as truth respecting certain regions or geographical areas, and have been recorded as such by one or by many of the map makers, would often be held as doubtful by those of succeeding years, to be accepted and rejected again in turn. Blaeu’s intimate acquaintance with mathematics and astronomy as related to geography, particularly as related to cartography, admirably fitted him for a certain leadership in this field. We have from Vossius the information that Blaeu undertook the measurement of a degree on the surface of the earth to the end that he might aid the map maker in improving his work and serve especially the cause of navigation. In his attempts to find a new and better method for terrestrial measurements, it seems probable that he anticipated the work of the great mathematician Snellius, whose results were first published in the year 1617, and to whom credit is generally given for having employed a new method of procedure based upon triangulation.[13] Blaeu’s measurements, made along the coast of the Netherlands from the mouth of the Meuse to the Texel, were never published, probably for the reason, as suggested by Vossius, that he may have distrusted their accuracy. The mathematician Picard, in his Voyage d’Uranibourg,[14] writes in the month of July, 1671, a brief word concerning Blaeu’s contributions toward the solution of problems having to do with terrestrial measurements, giving us in this word practically the only information we have concerning the matter. According to Picard, Blaeu’s measurements gave results with an error of but 66 meters, whereas for the same measurements, Snellius’s results gave an error of no less than 3880 meters. Had Blaeu more persistently carried on his studies in this particular branch of mathematical geography, his name doubtless would have been with the very first in a list of those who have made contribution to the science of terrestrial measurement and to a reform of the maps. His aim was set in the right direction, and we are safe in saying that none, in his day, made greater contribution toward the attainment of accuracy in map drawing than did he. To be able to understand the nature of the errors so common in chart making and to be able to correct the same were two very different matters, and although Blaeu was able to point out many errors, such, for example, as pertained to latitude and longitude, his maps do not indicate that he was able to overcome all difficulties. His was not the day for scientifically accurate results. Years had yet to pass before that end could be attained. To some of his errors, and to certain improvements of his, attention will be directed later. He appears to have been especially desirous, at all times, of acquiring detailed geographical and astronomical information from navigators who visited distant regions, making request of them that their observations should be reported to him. In a letter to W. Schickard, dated June 24, 1634, Blaeu wrote, “When the directors of the East India Company placed me at the head of their department of hydrography a year ago, I requested them to charge all pilots and masters who sailed for India to observe all eclipses, in whatever part they might be seen, and this has been done.”[15] His desire to be of assistance to others in giving out such information as might come into his possession is made evident by the further word in his letter to Schickard assuring him that “if observations of eclipses from India or other places on the way are sent to me, I shall be pleased to inform you of them.”
The determination of longitude, particularly at sea, remained for more than a century and a half after Blaeu’s day a most perplexing problem, a problem, however, of the greatest significance in the art of navigation, miscalculations being often the cause of most serious disasters. The rulers of the maritime states of western Europe not infrequently offered liberal reward for its solution. Philip III of Spain, for instance, promised an annuity of 6000 ducats to the one who would first devise a method for determining longitude.[16] Numerous attempts were made in Spain and Portugal, as a result of the promised reward, but the problem remained unsolved. The States General of Holland, for instance, offered a liberal reward to Plancius should a plan he submitted prove to be of value, which plan he had based upon the declination of the needle; and in the records of that body, bearing date May 21, 1601, we read that a reward of 150 pounds was promised to any one who, having made an expedition for the purpose of determining longitude and latitude, could obtain the support of six or eight sea captains that his method was of real value.[17] Blaeu often figured somewhat conspicuously as an expert in passing upon the solution of certain problems which were offered. Resolutions of the States General, for example, make mention of a plan submitted by Thomas Leamer, an Englishman residing in Amsterdam, but it appears that no satisfactory agreement could be entered into with him on his first plans, and it was, therefore, decided to submit his subsequent propositions to the College of Admiralty of Amsterdam, authorizing this body to ask for a demonstration of the new invention in its presence, to have it investigated by Willem Jansz. Blaeu and other masters in this art together with such experienced navigators and pilots as the College might see fit to choose, to examine it carefully and impartially with especial reference to its practical value, and to follow their best judgment as to the advisability of attempting to make use of the invention.[18] On July 3, 1612, the Council of the Admiralty sent word to the States General that the aforesaid Leamer had been examined, in accord with the letter of December 21, 1611, at different times, and at his request again and again in its presence, by “Willem Jansz,” and by many other persons experienced in mathematics and navigation, in order to find out the truth relative to his proposition; that they had charged the judges to examine honestly, and that it had been unanimously concluded the invention was wholly worthless.[19] It is not without interest to note that Leamer made an especial appeal to the Admiralty of Amsterdam, charging the committee with partiality and with inability to judge the case, but we are not informed that the Admiralty altered its opinion.