Sold Antiques

M-10487: (Image: 15 ¼ x 20 ¾’’)  “RVSSIÆ, vulgo MOSCOVIA...” Isaac Massa. Amsterdam: Johnnnes & Cornelius Blaeu, c. 1660.  Verso: Latin. Prepared by Isaac Massa. Engraved map with original hand-coloring.

This very attractive early 17^th century map depicts the region in Russia from Estonia to Moscow. Topographical features are shown, and major cities, towns, waterways, mountains, forests and islands are located. Wildlife is depicted throughout the map with a scene of men hunting bears in the upper right quadrant. The colorful and elaborate title cartouches with the coat-of-arms further enhance the map.

Blaeu was founder of the leading 17^th century Dutch cartographic firm. “The achievements of the firms of Blaeu were remarkable, & the palm for supremacy in map production in any age must be awarded to the Blaeu” (Tooley: Maps & Map-Makers, p. 33).

Isaac Massa (1586-1643), was a Dutch mapmaker who traveled to Russia, returning to Holland in 1609, bringing with him a large amount of original cartographic manuscript material used for a number of maps by Blaeu.