Gouda – Joan Blaeu, 1649

Gouda, copper engraving published by Joan Blaeu in 1649. The map was made for a Latin edition of Blaeu’s famous townbook. Coloured by a later hand. Size (print): 38.5 x 50.5 cm.

Characteristic of the map of Gouda is the centrally located triangular market square, featuring the late Gothic town hall. The Sint Janskerk lies slightly to the south of it, surrounded by houses. In the upper corners of the map are the coats of arms of Holland (left) and Gouda (right).

Joan Blaeu dedicated the map “to the very honorable and highly knowledgeable gentlemen schout (sheriff), mayors, aldermen, and the entire council of the city of Gouda,” which indicates that the city provided a model for the map.

On May 17, 1649, the mayors granted Joan Blaeu permission “to have the city and respective streets measured at the city’s expense.” Since the townbook was already published in the course of 1649, this could not have been a new survey, but merely a verification.Possibly Blaeu enlarged the map from Marcus Boxhorn’s Theatrum Hollandiae and had it verified in Gouda, during which the notable buildings were drawn and a street name list was compiled. One small error was the “Walesteeg”, which is labeled “Watersteegh” (no. 18) on the map.

Price: Euro 750,-