In 1615, during one of John Smith’s voyages across the Atlantic, he was caught by some French pirates. While at sea in captivity he was forced to suffer great hardships but, one night during a storm in the Bay of Biscay when the crew were forced below deck, he managed to escape in a rowing boat. All night he was tossed about by the waves with only a pike to help him steer. The small boat was eventually driven ashore on the island of Charante where some bird-catchers found him almost dead from ...

Rare map of the Low Countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg after Tassin and offered for sale by the publisher N. Berey.

Willem Blaeu, founder of the famous publishing firm. Originally publishing pilot-guides, he issued his first atlas,  'Atlantis Appendix', in 1630, followed by his "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" or "Novus Atlas" in 1635.Willem Blaeu's map of Germany. From the French edition of Willem Blaeu's atlas "Theatrum".  With 13 other map of general Germany by Tirion,  Bachienne and Bonne.[Lot of 14 maps]- Nova Totius Germaniae Descriptio.  Blaeu 1634- Nieuwe kaart van Duitsland verdeelt in zyn Thien Kre...

Second state of this rare and decorative plan of Amsterdam with Visscher's imprint. With a panoramic view seen from the IJ and further insets of Council House, The Exchange, House of the Dutch East India Company and House of the West India Company. This state figures the fourth extension with the projected growth of the city added to the left half of the sheet; on the west side, the "Realeneiland" has been extended, above the image of the west India House, the imprint of Visscher has been added,...

Very rare map including Bayonne and Dax in the south west of France. With inset plan of "Plan de la ville Dax.". Engraved by Henri le Roy. With the address "Chez F. DLa Pointe sur le quay de l'horloge".

Map of Bretagne in France. From early on Willem Jansz. Blaeu aimed of publishing an atlas to compete with the Hondius-Jansson Atlas. By 1630, he had published at least 17 folio size maps. Blaeu was able to realize his plan soon after he had acquired the copper plates of the atlas maps by Jodocus Hondius. The "Appendix followed in 1630.In 1635 he finally realized a "international edition" of a world atlas, the "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum".

Map of Ré and Oléron islands. Depicting the west coast of France, showing La Rochelle. Several vessels and sailing ships dot the Atlantic ocean.Three windroses indicate north to the left. Embellished with sea goddess and monsters.  From early on Willem Jansz. Blaeu aimed of publishing an atlas to compete with the Hondius-Jansson Atlas. By 1630, he had published at least 17 folio size maps. Blaeu was able to realize his plan soon after he had acquired the copper plates of the atlas maps by Jod...

A very decorative map by Willem Blaeu with west is at the top. On the lower left a magnificent cartouche with a sitting female figure carrying a globe and compasses and the coat of arms of Brabant. The map encloses the area between the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt, with Namur (Namen) as the most southern town.

The coat of arms of Brabant and 's-Hertogenbosch do appear on the map. But the municipal arms in the columns on right and left-hand side have not yet been filled in. The map was prepared by Willibrordus van der Burgt.Considered one of the most decorative maps published by the publishing house of Blaeu.

With 2 engraved titles of the 'Leo Belgicus', with one paw resting on a shield bearing the title, large woodcut printer's device on the colophons, and 30 richly engraved views and plans of battles and sieges, 28 double-page and 2 full-page, by Johanness W.Bauer, J.Miele, Jacomo Cortese, a.o. Two examples of the famous Leo Belgicus map are included. Among the greatest decorative works of early cartography is a series of arresting maps showing The Netherlands and Belgium in the shape of a lion.Thi...

View of Vienne, engraved by François de La Pointe.

Prince Maurits' sailing carriages had been designed by Simon Stevin. The Prince, always accessible to new inventions of his old instructor, could not please the foreign ambassadors more than by inviting them for a ride in his carriage. The big sailing-carriage could seat 28 persons and could reach a speed of seven miles per hour. Land sailing : The Chinese had "wind-driven carriages" since the 6th century AD, during the Liang Dynasty, and eventually mounted masts and sails on large wheelbarrows....

Map taken from "Geographique Theater de l'Europe …, a rare work by the Jesuit priest Briet.

Decorative map centered on the Loire valley. Fine title cartouche in upper right corner.

A bird's-eye view of the town. With extensive shipping in the foreground. From "Topographia Germaniae Inferioris". Matthäus Merian, the leading German illustrator of the 17th century, was born in Basel in 1593. He learned the art of copperplate engraving in Zurich and subsequently worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, Paris, and the Low Countries. In 1618 he went to Frankfurt, wherein 1618 he marries the eldest daughter of J.T. de Bry, publisher and engraver. After de Bry died in 1623, he ...

Two decorative charts on one sheet, one depicting Texel and the entrance of the Zuider Zee with an inset showing the north coast of West-Friesland, the other depicting the river Maas as far inland as Rotterdam and the islands of South Holland.

Fluviorum Rheni Mosae Mosellae Moeni Neccaris aliorumque minorum in eosdem se exonerantium et regionum circumjacentium descriptio Decorative map with 18 vignettes on three sides showing fortifications along the Rhine.

An attractive chart of the Zuiderzee, now the inland water het IJselmeer.HOLLANDT / VRIESLANDTPas-Caart van de Zuyder-Zee, Texel ende Vlie-stroom.als mede 't Amelander gat (1665) 

An eye-catching chart of the western part of the Mediterranean Sea.Pieter Goos (ca. 1616-1675) was one of the most important cartographer, engraver, publisher and print seller of Amsterdam. His widow continued business at her husband's death. She re-issued the Nieuwe Groote Zee-Spiegel in 1676.In very decorative original colors. The compass rose and cartouche heightened with gold.The map is in a strictly contemporary coloring and of the highest level.