van der Aa, P.
van der Aa, P.
Le Nouveau Theatre du Monde ou la Geographie Royale
Leiden, van der Aa, 1713
(Koeman, Aa 6)
Grand Folio, 56x43 cm
Half vellum and marbled paper over boards
Letter title page
Engraved title page
Letter title page in red and black
3 nn lvs: dedication
1 nn leaf: preface
1 nn leaf: index
2 double page folded world maps 50x65 cm
66 and 76 leaves of text on broadsheet (landscape) paper, interleaved with
4 double page continent maps, all in wonderful colour just as the one double page country map (Italy). Further 88 maps in black and white on 44 map sheets covering the whole world but especially the Netherlands and Europe. Engraved title page, 7 double page maps and all vignettes and historiated initials in superb, later colour, modestly heightened in gold
Condition: excellent. Strong paper that sounds loudly when handled. A few leaves with modest waterstain. Two of the one page mapsheets show a small tear and old restoration. All other maps are fine, deep imprints in strong paper. Apparently (Re) bound in the XIX century using XV century manuscript on vellum for the spine and marbled paper over boards for the plates.
Worldatlas. The text embraces a geographical, political and historical description of all the regions and countries of the world. These texts are by Geudeville (Europe) and Ferrarius (other continents)
The atlas is rare and features sensational geographical engravings not only shown in the engraved title page, the two worldmaps and the maps of the continents and Italy, but also in the small maps that each house a story that concerns the country depicted. Van der Aa was one of the best Dutch engravers of his time (Hoftijzer 1999) and this shows in the details of the maps and the richness of the cartouches. That same richness features in the engraved initials and the vignettes.
In this century I find only 3 copies sold at auction, a coloured copy in the Wardington sale in London in 2005 (c 30.000 Euros ); another black and white in 2007 in Germany : 18.500 Euros and another again in black and white in Italy with serious condition problems for 17.500 Euros.
