Willem Janszoon Blaeu Rare Original 17th Century Map of Ethiopia in a Pine Frame

Willem Janszoon Blaeu Rare Original 17th Century Map of Ethiopia in a Pine Frame

Rare early 17th century map of Ethiopia by Willem Janszoon Blaeu. The Netherlands.

A so called ‘'Aethiopia Superior vel Interior vulgo Abissinorum sive Presbiteri Joannis Imperior’ map - based on Blaeu’s earlier 1608 African map and firstly issued in his 1635 ‘Atlas Novusin’.

Beautifully drawn with mountains, rivers, animals and information about cities and regions.

Interestingly this map differs slightly to other Blaeu maps of Ethiopia and the ones that can be found from the ‘Atlas Novusin’ - the most visible differences being the decoration around the name of the map depicted on the lower right and left of the map. Also, when viewed closely you can see lines, images and text are differently drawn on this map opposed to the more commonly known 1635 map. Therefore we think this could be another - less common - variety of this map.

The outlines of the country are based on Blaeu’s famous 1608 map of the African continent and the interior - the names, regions, cities and other information - is based on written information. In those times information was passed on through older generations of cartographers and the makers had to rely on what information was provided to them through contacts, other cartographers or written texts.

In the name of the map you’ll find ‘'Presbiteri Joannis Imperior’' - which refers to the Kingdom of Prester John, a mythical Christian figure believed to have ruled in Africa / Ethiopia. Around 1145, Bishop Hugh of Jabala told Pope Eugenius III about a powerful Christian ruler in the East named Prester John who had supposedly defeated Muslim forces and intended to help the Crusaders. The story quickly spread through Europe. At first, Europeans believed he ruled somewhere in India or Central Asia. Later, as geographic knowledge improved and travelers like Marco Polo failed to find him, people began to identify his supposed realm with Ethiopia, a real Christian kingdom in East Africa. The legend influenced European exploration and - very obvious in this case - mapmaking. Historians today see Prester John as a symbolic figure.

The map comes well preserved behind glass and framed in a nice and subtle frame in pine.

Dimensions: W. 58 x D. 3 x H. 54 cm (Actual map 36 × 30 cm)

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