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an old map of the kingdom of morocco with a picture of a man on horsebackan old map with a picture of a man and a woman standing in front of itan old map of europe with a man and a woman sitting on a horsean open book with a picture of a moscovie on it
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846 - ISAAC MASSA (c. 1587–1635)
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Estimate €800 - €1,000
Sale commission
Description
ISAAC MASSA (c. 1587–1635) Russiae, vulgo Moscovia, Pars Australis. By Isaac Massa [Russia, commonly known as Muscovy, southern part]. Amsterdam: Johannes and Cornelis Blaeu, 1640–1660 58 x 48 cm. Copperplate engraving, hand-coloured in watercolour. Fold marks, traces of restoration, small tears, a small fragment missing at the fold. Explanatory text in Latin on the reverse. The map is adorned with three figurative cartouches. One of them depicts the Tsar’s eagle, with the coat of arms of Moscow and streltsy depicted in the background. The title cartouche features animals and precious furs, Muscovy’s principal wealth. Sheet from Blaeu’s ‘Novus Atlas’, first published in 1638 (second edition in 1647). The map was drawn up based on the drawings and notes of the Dutch merchant Isaac Massa (c. 1587–1635), who frequently stayed in Muscovy between 1601 and 1634. It is known that he acquired several local hand-drawn plans in Moscow, which he used for his maps. Interestingly, the map shows, amongst other things, a non-existent waterway between the Don and the Volga, the ‘Fossa Kamouz’. Only a few 17th-century maps are known to mention it. It was no doubt a portage route, as the first proposal for a canal at this location did not emerge until the reign of Peter the Great (and was never actually built). Johannes (Joan) Blaeu (1596–1673) and Cornelis Blaeu (1610–1642), famous Dutch cartographers and publishers, succeeded their father Willem Janszoon Blaeu; upon his death in 1638, they inherited the collection of maps he had acquired from the heirs of Gerard Mercator. At the buyer’s request, we shall be happy to provide a general report on the condition of the lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise potential buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist of their choice to obtain a full assessment of the lot’s condition. Descriptions of items provided in the catalogue or by correspondence are for information purposes only and should not be regarded as a definitive assessment. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD ‘AS IS’, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE.
See original version (French)
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About the sale RARE BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS: Antique books § Autographs, rare editions, photographs § Works on paper
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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