Caricta Borealis Vulgo The Northpart of Carrick

Copper engraved map, from volume 5 of Blaeu’s Atlas, outlined in colour, decorative title and scale cartouches, central vertical fold, wide margins, slight marginal toning, overall size 515 x 610mm, Amsterdam, 1654

An attractive map of the northern part of the historic region of Carrick, extending from just south of Ayr to south of the Girvan River. The detailed map shows villages, castles, mountains, lochs and rivers in great detail. This is one of the first published maps of this part of Scotland. The original survey work of Timothy Pont (and secondarily Robert Gordon) is behind the first atlas of Scotland published by Blaeu in 1654. Pont compiled this map for Blaeu between 1583 and 1601.

Joan Blaeu was a leading Amsterdam mapmaker. His prowess was recognised in the civil offices he held: from 1638, mapmaker to the Dutch East India Company and, between 1651 and 1672, a member of Amsterdam City Council. The maps of Scotland that form part of the Atlas novus are part of a scheme for a multi-volume world atlas, a scheme hatched by Joan’s father, Willem Janszoon Blaeu.

The Blaeu maps of Scotland are particularly scarce. Produced between 1654 and 1672, the year of the fire that destroyed the Blaeu printing house, is a much shorter period of time than most other Blaeu maps. A good example of this uncommon map, a little light marginal stain but paper good and clean, with fresh and bright original colour.