Decorative map showing the Ottoman Empire at its height, published during the Dutch Golden Age. German text on verso.

Blaeu's iconic map of the Ottoman Empire was first issued in his "Atlas Novus" in 1635 and over a long publishing history, continued to be used until the issue of the Atlas Major in 1662 onwards. The map remained mostly unchanged with the exception of changes to the language and typography on the reverse. Geographically, it stretches from the Balkans in the west to the Persian border in the east and shows the Empire as it was reaching its greatest territorial extent. 

Much of the information shown on the map was derived from Blaeu's own continental maps of Asia and Europe issued in 1617, which in turn were sourced from mainly from Petrus Plancius, Abraham Ortelius and Jodocus Hondius. However, the decorative aspects of the map, together with the clean and clear engraving style, are very much Blaeu's own and one of the major reasons why this is one of the most famous and collectable maps of the Ottoman Empire. 

Coloured. German text on reverse. [MEAST4803]