Noorwegen – Joan & Cornelis Blaeu, 1662

“SCAVENIUSKARTET” – THE SCAVENIUS MAP OF SOUTHERN NORWAY

“Dioecesis Stavangriensis & partes aliquot vicinae”, copper engraving published by Joan and Cornelis Blaeu first in 1640 as part of their “Appendix”, here from a Spanish language edition of the “Atlas Maior” published in Amsterdam in 1662. With original hand colouring. Size: 41,5 x 50 cm.

The map shows the Bishopric of Stavanger and the adjacent regions based upon the work of Laurits Clausen Scabo (Scavenius) (1562-1626), the Bishop of Stavanger from 1605 to 1626. The map locates the major villages and towns and presents reasonable coastal detail. However, the interior topography is not very accurate with Opslo Tellemarck shown as a large empty region, save for a large lake and a notation describing that “from Stavanger to Hallingdal, the journey is extremely difficult due to the roughness of the mountains.”

Although Scavenius is listed as the author of the map, it is likely that Peder Claussøn Friis was the actual cartographer behind it. When Peder Claussøn Friis died in 1614, all his topographical works, including sketches and notes, were handed over to Bishop Laurits Scavenius. However, these works remained with the bishop until his death in 1626. It was his successor, Bishop Thomas Kortsen Wegner (1588–1654), who then took possession of the material. It was not until 1630 that Wegner transferred the sketches and notes to Chancellor Christen Friis (1581–1639), who, in turn, forwarded them to physician Ole Worm (1588–1654) so that they could be printed.

The waters of the North Sea are sailed by four ships; the coat of arms of Norway is displayed to the upper right while the arms of the kingdom of Denmark appears to the upper left (both countries were at the time ruled by King Christian IV of Denmark). In the lower left, the title cartouche is flanked by two goats, and a woodsman – an allusion to the region’s role as exporter of lumber to Europe in general, and the Netherlands in patricular.

Joan Blaeu’s 11 volume Atlas Maior is considered by many to be the greatest atlas ever published, both in its own time and even today. It excels in comprehensiveness, engraving, colour, and overall production.

Price: Euro 650,-