Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume Ii Part 1

Terrestrial and Celestial Globes.

Vol II.

by Edward Luther Stevenson.

Chapter X

Globes and Globe Makers of the Early Seventeenth Century. The Dutch Scientific Masters and Their Preeminent Leaders.h.i.+p

The s.h.i.+fting of globe making interest to the northwest of Europe at the close of the sixteenth century.--The Van Langrens as leaders.--Jodocus Hondius and his son Henricus.--Willem Jansz. Blaeu and his sons, John and Cornelius.--The Ferreri armillary sphere.--Globes of Peter Plancius.--Isaac Habrecht.--Globes of Mattheus Greuter and their reproduction by Rossi.--Manfredus Settala.--Abraham Goos.--Adam Heroldt.

As the first post-Columbian century came to its close the center of interest in great transoceanic exploration and discovery s.h.i.+fted to the northwest of Europe, to England, and to the Netherlands. Since expeditions were daily setting sail to all sh.o.r.es of the world, "Quoniam in omnes mundi plagas quotidie magis magisque navigatur," quoting the word of the enthusiastic Hondius, the chart and globe makers found their services in great demand, globes both terrestrial and celestial being still regarded as essential to a navigator's complete outfit of sailing instruments. The quick-witted Netherlanders, with well-developed business instincts, engravers, printers, map and globe makers, set to work to correct the old and to construct new "seamen's cards" to serve the seafarers in their enterprises, and it was not long after entering this field of scientific endeavor that leaders.h.i.+p by them was clearly attained.

Although of Danish origin, perhaps logically the Van Langren family should have had first consideration in this chapter, since father and sons came to be loyal supporters of their new homeland's interests, and it was in the Netherlands where were laid the scenes of their activities in the field here under consideration. Chronologically, however, they had place in the preceding chapter because their work as globe makers began in the early eighties of the sixteenth century. They, at least, be it said to their credit, led the way, achieving some of their highest successes in the early seventeenth century. This, too, was the time when the Hondius, the Blaeu, the Jansson, and the Goos families came to the front to contribute their part, in a very distinguished manner, toward the promotion of the work so ably begun by their contemporary, Jacobus Florentius van Langren.

Jodocus Hondius (1567-1611) was a native of Wacken (Fig. 60).[1] To this village his parents, shortly before his birth, had fled from Ghent to escape the persecuting hand of Count Egmont. The father, Oliver de Hondt, a modest teacher but a man very learned in theology, had embraced the reformed faith and therefore became an outlaw by decree of the government. On the arrest of Egmont, he with his family returned to Ghent, to remain but a short time, for in the year 1569 we find a residence had been taken up at Duffel near Antwerp. In this city two children were born, a daughter whose name is now unknown and a son Henry, usually referred to as Henry the Elder.

Jodocus at an early age gave evidence of possessing very remarkable talent for designing and engraving. We are told that at the age of eight he began to apply himself to the art of portraiture, of ivory carving, and of copper engraving, and that his father, noting the exhibition of special talent in the son, placed him as an apprentice with an engraver and sculptor in Antwerp. During this period of apprentices.h.i.+p he carried on his studies of the fine arts, also of Latin, Greek, and mathematics, under the direction of his father, at the same time applying himself to the work of map engraving. It probably was about the year 1585 that he went to England, where, by reason of the talent he exhibited, he found employment with the English geographers, Richard Hakluyt and Edward Wright, during which period he appears to have engraved and printed a small world map in hemispheres. In the year 1592 he returned to Amsterdam, where he established himself as an engraver and printer, turning his attention especially to the issue of geographical maps.[2] Among his friends he numbered the men most prominent in his field, notably Petrus Bertius, very learned as a geographer, and Petrus Monta.n.u.s.[3] It appears to have been Bertius who informed him of the intention of the heirs of Mercator to dispose of that ill.u.s.trious geographer's engraving and printing establishment, and who perhaps negotiated the sale of the same. At any rate, we find that in the year 1604 Jodocus Hondius came into possession of the Mercator copper plates of the Ptolemy maps, and at the same time he seems also to have acquired the greater part of the edition of Mercator's 'Atlas' of 1602 then remaining unsold. In the year 1605 Hondius prepared and issued a third edition of the Ptolemy maps; in 1606 he issued a third edition of Mercator's 'Atlas'; in 1608 he published a fourth edition; in 1609 and in 1610 other editions.[4] It must have been in the year 1611 that he issued his great world map in two hemispheres, bearing the t.i.tle "Novissima ac exactissima totius...o...b..s terrarum descriptio magna cura & industria ex optimis quibusque tabulis Geographicis et Hydrographicis nuperrimisque doctorum virorum observationibus duobus planisphaerijs delineata. Auct. I. Hondio." This work has been recently issued in a superb facsimile of the only known extant original copy, now in the possession of Prince Maximilian of Waldburg zu Wolfegg-Waldsee.[5] Of such superior excellence is the work of Hondius, as exhibited in this masterpiece, that it justly ent.i.tles him to first place among those who, up to this date, had undertaken to construct world maps.

It seems to have been early in his career as engraver and printer that he prepared his first globe gores and issued his first celestial globe.

The director of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum of Nurnberg, in courteous communication, reports that in the rich collection of that inst.i.tution there is a Hondius globe of the year 1592, which date, if accurately read, makes this to be the only known copy of what must be taken as his first issue. The map is a colored copper engraving covering a ball of wood having a diameter of 60 cm. The mounting of the globe, which clearly is the original, consists of the usual circles, resting upon six wooden support columns. A more detailed description of this particular example it has not been possible to obtain.[6]

Not until the year 1600 does there appear to have been a second issue of his globes. Of this second issue a remarkably fine pair (Figs. 88, 89) was recently acquired by Mr. Henry E. Huntington of New York City.[7]

Excepting very slight damage to the celestial globe in the north polar region, they may be said to be in practically as fine condition as they were when first given out from the master's workshop. Their complete history has not been obtainable, but so remarkably well preserved are they that it seems quite probable they have been kept through all these years in the library case of some rich Italian treasure-loving family.

There cannot be the slightest doubt of their age, certainly none of the age of the spheres themselves, but the exact date of the bronze mounting, though clearly in the style of certain Italian workmans.h.i.+p of the period, is less easy to determine. These globes have a diameter of about 34 cm. and an entire height, including the base, of 73 cm. The spheres on which have been pasted the twelve engraved gores are of papier-mache, over which is a covering of plaster and a coating of thick varnish or sh.e.l.lac giving a smooth surface for the terrestrial and the celestial maps. To each, color was artistically applied by hand, which still retains a richness of tone. Each is supplied with a bronze meridian and horizon circle and with an hour circle attached in the accustomed manner at the north pole. These circles are appropriately graduated, the horizon circle having, in addition to its graduation into three hundred and sixty degrees, a series of concentric circles engraved, counting from the outermost, with the names of the winds, compa.s.s directions in the Dutch language, the names of the months, and the signs of the zodiac. Each sphere with its circles is carried on a base composed of three artistically designed and engraved bronze supports, these being attached at their lower extremities by an appropriately designed plate, and in this plate has been set a compa.s.s, still apparently in perfect condition, the dial face of this compa.s.s having a diameter of 8 cm. Aside from their scientific value for the student of geography and of astronomy, these are fit pieces to adorn the library shelves of a prince among American book collectors, as they must, in keeping with the custom of the time, have once adorned the shelves of an Italian patrician book lover.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 88. Terrestrial Globe of Jodocus Hondius, 1600.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 89. Celestial Globe of Jodocus Hondius, 1600.]

The terrestrial globe has the following dedication: "Ill.u.s.trissimo Principi D? Mauritio a Na.s.sau, Principi Auraico, Comiti a Na.s.sau, etc.

Gubernatori Provinciarum Foederataru Summoque Praefecto mari Inferioris Germaniae Domino suo colendissimo. Jod. Hondius Flander L. M. D. D. c.u.m privilegio decem annorum." "To the ill.u.s.trious Prince D. Maurice of Na.s.sau, Prince of Orange, Knight of Na.s.sau, etc. Governor of the Federated Provinces and High Prefect of the Lower German Ocean, his Most Wors.h.i.+pful Master, Jodocus Hondius dedicates (this globe). With privilege for ten years." This dedication is placed within an artistic cartouch (Fig. 90) which is surmounted with the coat of arms of the Princes of Na.s.sau, to which appropriate colors have been added. To the left of the above is an address to the reader: "Iod. Hond. Lectori S.

P. Quoniam crebriores in omnes mundi partes quotidie navigationes inst.i.tuut unde situs ejusdem certius perspicitur atque innotescit; nemini idcirco mirum spero visum iri, si haec nostri globi descriptio ab aliis antehac in lucem editis plurimu discrepet. Quin uti par est, nostrae diligentiae et curae favebit, qua recens patefacta et cognita, qua directiones, lat.i.tudines et similia cogruenter distincta suis locis habentur. Quod ipsum in ducendis lineis Directorii fecimus et peritis c.u.mulate satisfactum confidimus. Postremo lectore benev. rogam? ut si quam loci alicujis pleniorem not.i.tiam habeat eandem n.o.biscu, provehedi boni publici gratia, lubens comunicet. vale." "Hondius to the reader greeting. Inasmuch as frequent voyages into all parts of the world are undertaken every day, whereby the several locations (of places) are more certainly seen and are made known, I hope therefore no one will be surprised to find this delineation on our globe very different from that on most others previously issued. But who, as is right, will not prefer our diligence and care, whereby recently discovered and known lands, and whereby directions, lat.i.tudes, and such like are all properly distinguished and are to be found in their places. What we have done in drawing the lines of direction, we trust will be satisfactory on the whole to experts. Finally, we ask the kind reader that, if he has fuller knowledge of any place, that of his own free will he will communicate the same to us, to the end of advancing the public welfare. Farewell."

Within the Arctic circle and north of North America is the t.i.tle and date legend reading "Globus Terrestris de integri revisus & emendatus an. 1600." "Globe of the entire earth revised and corrected in the year 1600." To the right of the dedicatory legend we find instruction given as to the method of finding the direction from one place to another, of which one may be desirous of having knowledge; it reads: "Modus investigandi locoru directione. Duorum locorum in hoc globo quorum directionem scire cupis hoc est in quam coeli partem alter ab altero vergat, primo longitudinis et lat.i.tudinis differentiam notabis, qua cognita vertas glob.u.m donec Rhumbus aliquis intersecet meridianum in lat.i.tudine primi loci, deinde volvas versus Ortum aut Occasum, prout res postulat, donec gradus aequatoris numero aequales differentiae longitudinis duoru locorum meridianum pertranseant postea vide num a.s.suptus Rhumbus intersecet meridianum in lat.i.tudine loci. Quod si fecerit hic est horum locoru Rhumbus sive linea directionem indicans: sin secus, alius a.s.sumendus est, usque dum occurrat qui hoc praest.i.terit. Subjecimus scalam longitudinum." "Of two places on this globe whose direction from one another you are desirous of knowing, that is in what part of the heavens the one diverges from the other, first of all note the difference of lat.i.tude and longitude. This ascertained turn the globe until some one rhumb cuts the meridian in the lat.i.tude of the first place, then turn to the east or to the west as is required, until the degrees of the equator through which the meridians of the places pa.s.s equal in number the difference in longitude of the two places. Then note whether the selected rhumb cuts the meridian in the lat.i.tude of the place. If it does so then this is the rhumb of these places or the line which shows the required direction: but if it does not then another rhumb must be chosen until the condition is satisfied. We subjoin a scale of longitudes." Other legends, describing briefly some event in the history of discovery, or describing briefly the characteristic features of some locality, are exceedingly numerous. As a record of the geographical knowledge of the time, this Hondius terrestrial globe map may justly be referred to as one of the most valuable of the period.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 90. Dedication Appearing on Globe of Jodocus Hondius, 1600.]

For astronomical study the celestial globe is none the less valuable and interesting than is the terrestrial for the study of geography. Its descriptive t.i.tle reads: "Globus coelestis. In quo Stellae fixae omnes quae a N. viro Tycone Brahe suma industria ac cura observatae sunt accuratissime designantur: nec non ea quae a peritis. nauclero Petro Theodori. Mateseos studioso annotatae sunt." "Celestial globe, in which all of the fixed stars which were observed by the ill.u.s.trious Tycho Brahe, with great care and industry, are most accurately shown for the scientific student: also those which were noted by the distinguished navigator Peter Theodorus." The dedication differs somewhat from that on the terrestrial globe and reads: "Clarissimis Belgii luminibus sapientiae doctrinae et verae pietatis officinis Academiae Lugdunensis Batavorum et Francveriensis. Hos globos ad Mathematicas artes promovendas manu propria a se caelatas luculentissime dedicat consacratque Jodocus Hondius ann. 1600." "To the most renowned lights of Belgium, fountains of wisdom, of doctrine and of true piety, of the Academy of Leiden and of Frankfurt these globes, for the promotion of the mathematical arts and constructed with his own hands, are dedicated and consecrated by Jodocus Hondius in the year 1600." The several constellations are artistically represented in appropriate figures which include, in addition to those of Ptolemy, a considerable number in the southern hemisphere, for which, as the author states, he made use of the observations of the navigator Theodorus. That star in the constellation Ca.s.siopeia, which so greatly interested Tycho Brahe, has a special but brief legend distinguis.h.i.+ng it, reading "Stella mirabilis quae insolito prae aliis fulgore a? 1572 p. an. et trientem apparuit." "Remarkable star which appeared with brightness beyond all others in the year 1572 and for a year and one third."

A second pair of Hondius' globes of the year 1600 is reported as belonging to Count Rocco Giannini of Lucca. Fiorini says of them that they have mountings of bronze, resembling in this respect the pair described above, but he adds that they are without inscriptions of special note.[8] Either the information which he received concerning them was inaccurate or there exists a very marked difference between these pairs, the only ones it has been possible to locate.

In the year 1601 Hondius issued a pair of globes which were somewhat smaller than the preceding, each having a diameter of 21 cm. The inscription on the celestial globe, in which appears the date of construction, differs but little from that appearing on the issue of the year 1600; it reads: "Globus coelestis in quo fixae omnes quae a N. viro Thicone Brahe suma cura observatae sunt, accuratissime designantur quibus adjuncta sunt circa Pol. Australe stel. quae a pertissimo nauclero Petro Theodori. annotatae sunt simul accomodatae ad annum 1600.

editus vero 1601." "Celestial globe in which all the fixed stars which were observed with the utmost care by the ill.u.s.trious Tycho Brahe and accurately noted, to which are added the stars around the south pole which were observed by the skilful navigator Peter Theodorus. Adapted to the year 1600, but edited in the year 1601." The general design of the figures of the several constellations agrees with that of the first edition, the chief difference lying merely in the matter of size.

On the terrestrial globe is the following dedication: "Serenissimis Principibus Alberto et Isabellae Cla. austriacis Brabantiae Ducibus.

Jodo. Hondius. auctor et Joan Baptista Vriendt. Antuerpiae." "To the Most Serene Rulers Albert and Isabella, the renowned Princes of Austrian Brabant, Jodocus Hondius author and John Baptist Veen (dedicate this globe). Antwerp."

The author has added a rather lengthy address to the reader, in which is interesting reference to the difficult problem of determining the longitude of places.[9] "Hondius Lectori S. In locorum longitudine hactenus mirifice peccatum esse hydrographiae peritis satis constat: Regiones enim fere omnes descriptae sunt prout naucleri in suis navigationibus directionem duorum locorum ab uno loco ad alterum invenerunt, idque nulla habita ratione loci tertii, vel deviationis acus nauticae, vel etiam directorii nautici, quo indifferenter utuntur, quamvis in uno non aeque ac in alio chalyben ille acus ponatur, et a vero septentrione magis vel minus divertatur, pro uso loci in quo directoria fabbricata sunt, unde necessario longitudo locorum distorta est. Multi hos errores frustra conati sunt emendare per polares stellas, alii per Lunae cursum, alii certius per eclipses. Verum hoc opus, ille labor. Quis enim in tanta locorum mult.i.tudine eclipses observabit? At c.u.m jam tandem per variationem, aut deviationem acus nauticae, ut vocant, locorum, longitudo inveniatur, operae praetium me facturum putavi si in hoc globo regiones omnes (saltem quarum longitudo jam cognita est) suis quasq veris longitudinis gradibus delineavero, quamvis id non exigui laboris fuerit. Longitudines incepimus non ab Insulis Fortunatis ut Ptolomeus, sed ab iis quae acores vocantur quod acus nautica ibi recta in septentrionem vergat. Vale. Anno 1601."

"Hondius to the reader greeting. In the matter of the longitude of places all hydrographers, it is agreed, have blundered marvelously, since nearly all regions have been described as navigators, in their voyages, found the direction from one to another, of any two places, without reckoning having been taken from a third place, or account having been taken of the variation of the nautical needle, or even of nautical direction, which they indefinitely make use of, although in one place the needle does not point exactly as in another, being deflected more or less from the true north according to the usage of the country in which the compa.s.s card employed was made, and thus the longitude of places is made to vary. Many have tried in vain to eliminate these errors by the polar stars. Others have tried to do the same by noting the course of the moon, and others again, with more certainty, by observations of eclipses; but all this is with much labor, and who will be able thus to get an accurate observation? But now since the longitude of places has been sought through the variation or deviation of the needle, as they say, I thought it would be a work of merit if I noted on this globe all the regions (at least all whose longitude is known) each with its own degree of longitude although knowing this would be no little labor. We have begun our reckoning of longitude not from the Fortunate Islands, as did Ptolemy, but from those which are called the Azores, because there the nautical needle points directly to the north.

Farewell. In the year 1601."

These globes of 1601 are composed of a hollow wooden sh.e.l.l, over which have been pasted the twelve engraved gores. They are mounted on well-constructed bases of copper from which rise the supports for the horizon circle, on the surface of which are the usual graduations, the calendar and zodiacal representations. The meridian circles are of bra.s.s, are graduated, and have in addition the engraved designations "Zona torrida," "Zona temperata," "Zona frigida." An example of each of these globes of 1601 may be found in the Museo Munic.i.p.ale of Milan, and one of the celestial globes in the library of the Seminario Vescovile of Rimini.

In the year 1613, shortly after the death of Jodocus Hondius, there was issued in Amsterdam, by Adrian Veen[10] and Jodocus Hondius, Jr., a terrestrial and a celestial globe, each having a diameter of about 56 cm. The dedication of the first reads: "Ill.u.s.trissimis, n.o.bilissimis, Amplissimis et Prudentissimis Federatarum Inferioris Germaniae Provinciarum Ordinibus ac Patribus Patriae Dominis Suis Clementissimis Dedicabant Jodocus Hondius Junior et Adria.n.u.s Veen. In the year 1613."

"To the Most Ill.u.s.trious, Most n.o.ble, Most Exalted, Most Prudent Lords of the Federated Provinces of the Netherlands, and Fathers of their Country, their Most Benign Masters, Jodocus Hondius Jr. and Adrian Veen dedicate (this globe)." The t.i.tle of the terrestrial globe is given as "Globus terrestris summa cura ac diligentia a Jodoco Hondio piae memoriae inchoatus, globosis autem directorii nautici lineis ab Adriano Venone ad usum navigantium accomodatus, illiusque et Jodoci Hondii junioris ope et industria absolutus atque perfactus. Amsterodami 1613."

"Terrestrial globe begun with great care and diligence by Jodocus Hondius of pious memory, furnished with the lines of nautical direction (loxodromes) for the use of navigators, by Adrian Veen, and finished by the industry and labor of the same and of Jodocus Hondius, Jr. Amsterdam 1613." It seems probable that the Jodocus Hondius here referred to was Henricus Hondius, who for reasons of business had taken the name of his father, affixing the word "Junior."

The celestial globe to accompany the above terrestrial has the t.i.tle, "Globus coelestis in quo stellae fixae omnes, quae a n.o.b. viro Tychone Brahe summa industria ac cura observatae sunt, accuratissima designantur, nec non circa polum austrum eae quae a Peritiss. nauclero Petro Theodorico et Friderico Houtmanno Mathessos studioso annotatae sunt." "Celestial globe on which are accurately depicted all the fixed stars that were observed by the ill.u.s.trious Tycho Brahe, with great industry and care: also those stars around the south pole which were noted for the scientific student by the skilful navigator Peter Theodorus, and by Frederick Houtmann." Surmounting the cartouch containing the above t.i.tle is a portrait of Tycho Brahe with the legend "Effigies n.o.b. viri Tychonis Brahe Dani Domini de Knudstrup. Summi Mathematici. Aetatis 47." "Portrait of the ill.u.s.trious Tycho Brahe, Danish Lord of Knudstrup, the great mathematician, in his 47th year."

The dedication of this globe differs somewhat from the former, reading, "Ill.u.s.trissimis, Amplissimis, Clarissimisque D. D. Dominis Ordinibus Provinciarum Foederis Belgici, Donis suis Clementissimis in a.s.siduae Grat.i.tudinis memoriam, Dant Dedicantque Adria.n.u.s Veen et Jodocus Hondius Junior. Anno 1613." "To the Ill.u.s.trious, the Great, the Renowned Lords of the Provinces of United Belgium, their Most Benign Masters, as a token of constant grat.i.tude, Adrian Veen and Jodocus Hondius Jr. give and dedicate (this globe). In the year 1613." There is evidence that Hondius drew from the work of Willem Jansz. Blaeu for certain features of this edition, in which he followed a practice of the time. Frequent complaint is to be met with, that this borrowing was not always done with the proper note of credit. We find, for example, that in the year 1608 Blaeu presented a special plea to the States of Holland and West Friesland that he be made secure against the loss caused by pirated editions of his works. He informed the States that he had given himself hope of being able to support his family in an honest way, and that he would have succeeded with G.o.d's mercy and blessing, if certain individuals engaged in the same business had not undertaken to copy his productions.[11] It seems probable that Blaeu's complaint touched in some manner his large world map of the year 1605, since there is striking resemblance between this and the world map of Hondius issued in the year 1611, and, as noted above, we find that Jodocus Hondius' son, signing himself Jodocus Hondius, Jr., continued to borrow from his distinguished contemporary's work. The practice of borrowing, however, seems to have been later reversed, when Blaeu, undoubtedly noting the success of Hondius' large globe of 1613, decided himself to produce one yet larger, as a result of which we have the splendid Blaeu globe of 1622.

A pair of this issue of the year 1613 may be found in the Biblioteca Barbarini of Rome, and another pair in the Biblioteca Civico of Treviso.

An example of the celestial globe may be found in the Museo di Strumenti Antichi di Astronomia e di Fisica of Florence.

In the year 1615 we find that Josef de Rossi of Milan undertook, without giving proper credit, the publication of the Hondius globes of the year 1601.[12] In size there is agreement, but certain changes in dates are to be noted, as in the address to the reader, wherein we find 1615 instead of 1601, but in other respects there has been a literal transcription. In the celestial globe of 1601 we find the following reference to the recorded position of the fixed stars, "Accomodata ad annum 1600, editus vero 1601," whereas in the Rossi copy we find "accomodatae ad annum 1614 editus vero 1615." The dedication of this terrestrial globe of 1615 reads: "Ill?? viro optimaraq artium amatori et Fautori D. Paulo Mellino Romano. Josephus de Rubeis Mediolanensis devoti animi monumentum dat dicatque." "To the Most Ill.u.s.trious, the Lover and Promoter of the best arts D. Paulus Mellinus of Rome, Joseph de Rossi of Milan gives and dedicates this token of devoted friends.h.i.+p." A copy of the terrestrial globe of 1615 may be found in the private library of the Italian artist, Lessi, of Florence, and a copy of the celestial globe belongs to Collegio Romano of Rome.

The Hispanic Society of America possesses a terrestrial globe signed Jodocus Hondius and dated 1618 (Fig. 91). Jodocus the elder died in the year 1611, and while the map of this globe may be a reprint of one which he had engraved, it should be noted that it does not agree in all of its details with any other known globe of his, and may therefore be the work of the son. The sphere of papier-mache has a diameter of 20 cm. and is supported on a base of wood which includes a horizon circle, having pasted on its surface the usual representations of zodiacal signs, the calendar, and the names of the princ.i.p.al winds or directions. This horizon circle rests upon four small turned legs joined at the bottom by cross bars, covering which bars is a circular turned disc 22 cm. in diameter, from the center of which rises a short post. Through a slot in this post pa.s.ses a graduated meridian circle within which the globe ball revolves.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 91. Terrestrial Globe of Jodocus Hondius, 1618.]

The map is slightly water-stained, but the American portion is particularly well preserved. A crack in the sphere along the meridian of 150 degrees east extends from pole to pole, and is rather a disfigurement than a serious injury to any part of the surface. The map is a remarkably fine example of the Dutch map engraver's art. The lettering and the continental outlines were remarkably well cut in the copper plate used in the printing, and in many places the l.u.s.ter of the ink is still preserved. In the northern part of North America is the brief and interesting dedication "Clarissimis Consultissimique Nauticae Belgicaeque Federatarum Inferioris Germaniae Regionum Praefectis D. D. Jodocus Hondius." "To the most ill.u.s.trious and most prudent prefects and seamen of Belgium and of the region of lower Germany, Jodocus Hondius gives and dedicates (this globe)." In the "Terra Australis incognita" is the address to the reader which is practically identical with that to be found on the Hondius terrestrial globe of 1601, omitting, however, the word "Vale" and changing the date to "1618." Near the entrance to Hudson's Bay is a legend reading "Huc retrocesserunt Amstelodamensis anno 1612."

From this bay an arm extends to the southwest which is referred to as "The bay where Hudson did winter," and an arm extends to the southeast, which is referred to as "The Bay of Gosneres." A few other brief legends are given, referring to an event or to events supposed to have taken place in the locality in which they are placed. Small but artistically engraved s.h.i.+ps sail the Atlantic and the Pacific, and here and there a marine animal is represented. Loxodromic lines are made a conspicuous feature, having their crossing centers at longitudes 0, 90, 180, and 270 on the equator, likewise on the prime meridian at lat.i.tude 35 degrees both north and south, as well as at the same lat.i.tudes on the opposite side of the sphere, where the prime meridian becomes the meridian of 180 degrees. In addition to this example belonging to The Hispanic Society's collection, one may be found in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum of Nurnberg.[13]

Not until the year 1640 do we find the name Hondius again appearing on a dated globe. Attention has been called to the fact that Henricus, the son of Jodocus, continued, with more or less diligence, the work of map engraving and map printing, which the latter had carried on so successfully in Amsterdam until the time of his death. We are told that a partners.h.i.+p in the business, about the year 1639, was formed by Henricus Hondius with Johan Janssonius, his brother-in-law, and that this business, after the year 1644, pa.s.sed entirely into the hands of the latter. It was in the year 1640 that the firm referred to undertook the reissue of the Hondius globes of earlier date. These had a diameter of about 52 cm. The gore maps, consisting of twelve parts, were made to extend to within twenty degrees of each pole, the polar s.p.a.ce being covered with the usual polar cap.

The address to the reader, to be found on the terrestrial globe of the year 1613, is repeated on this of 1640,[14] but the dedication differs somewhat in the two, reading, on those of the 1640 issue, "Ill.u.s.trissimis, n.o.bilissimis, Amplissimis et Prudentissimis Foederatarum Inferioris Germaniae provinciarum Ordinibus ac Patribus Patriae Dominis suis clementissimis dedicabat Henricus Hondius. Henricus Hondius excudebat An. 1640." "To the Most Ill.u.s.trious, Most n.o.ble, Most Exalted and Prudent Lords of the United Netherlands, the Fathers of their Country, his Most Clement Master, Henricus Hondius dedicates (this globe). Constructed by Henricus Hondius in the year 1640." There have been added a number of interesting legends, such as the following: "Inter S. Laurentii et los Romeros insulas vehemens admodum est versus ortum et occasum fluxus et refluxus maris." "Between the islands of St.

Lawrence and Los Romeros there is an exceedingly strong ebb and flow of the sea eastward and westward"; "Psitacorum regio sic a Lusitanis appellata ob eorum avium ibidem magnitudinem." "The region of the parrots, and this is so called by the Portuguese because of the great number of these birds found here";[15] "Promontorium terrae australis distans 450 leucas a capite Bonae Spei et 600 a S. Augustini." "This promontory of the southern land is distant 450 leagues from the Cape of Good Hope, and 600 from Cape St. Augustine"; "Accolae Freti Magellanici septentrionem versus procerae, meridiem vero versus exiquae magnitidinis reperiuntur." "The inhabitants of the Strait of Magellan toward the north are of large size, but toward the south they are of small stature"; "Lybia inferior quae hodie Saara appellatur quae vox idem quod desertum significat." "Lower Lybia is called today Sahara, which word means desert." In the Hudson Bay region we find, "In sinu Maris Hudsons Bay vulgo dictus ubi M. Hudson hybernavit, ibidem maris aestus non ultra duos pedes accrescebat, quod et observabit D. Thomas Jacobus a. 1631 in sinu 'James his Bay' dicto et ubi mensuram duorum pedum non excedebat maris tumor." "In the bend of the sea called Hudson's Bay, where Hudson pa.s.sed the winter, the tide of the sea did not rise more than two feet, which also was observed by Thomas James in the year 1631[16] in the Bay called James his Bay where the rise of the sea likewise did not exceed two feet." Near the last-quoted legend we find, "Thomas b.u.t.ton hibernans in portu Nelson ad alt.i.tudinem grad. 57 observavit singulis ex horis aestum maris accrescere 15 pedes aut ultra, qui flante Zephiro solito magis instar plenilunii intumescebat. Sequenti aestate animadvert.i.t quoque ad alt.i.tudinem grad. 60 similes aestus maris qui nunc orientem versus nunc occidentem vergebant." "Thomas b.u.t.ton,[17] who pa.s.sed the winter in Port Nelson, at the high lat.i.tude of 57 degrees, observed hour by hour the tide of the sea to rise 15 feet or more, which tide, with the accustomed wind blowing, swelled very like a (spring) tide. Next summer he noticed at a lat.i.tude of 60 degrees similar ocean tides which now had an eastward flow and now a westward." A legend has been added relating to the magnetic poles and to the difficulty of locating the same, reading "Duos in hoc loco Gerardus Mercator et alii eundem secuti posuerunt Polos magnetis, unum respectu insularum capitis viridis, alterum respectu insulae Corvi et Floridis: c.u.m vero de his nihil certi sit, et quotidiana experientia nos aliter doceat de deviatione acus nauticae ambos omissimus." "Gerard Mercator and others following him have placed two magnetic poles in this locality, one according to the direction indicated (by the compa.s.s needle) at the Cape Verde Islands, the other according to the direction indicated at the Islands of Corvus and Flores: but as nothing is known for a certainty concerning these, and a daily experience teaches us otherwise concerning the variation of the magnetic needle, we have omitted both poles."[18]

The globes of this edition were supplied with the usual bra.s.s meridian circles, wooden horizon circles, on the surface of which was pasted the printed representation of the zodiacal signs, the names of the months, and of the princ.i.p.al winds or directions.

The celestial globe follows, in its records, more closely than does the terrestrial, the issue of 1613. The t.i.tle legend, the reference to Tycho Brahe, and the reference to the star which appeared in the year 1572 in the constellation Ca.s.siopeia, all agree with those in the earlier edition, as do, in the main, the representations of the figures of the several Ptolemaic constellations and those added in the southern hemisphere. The dedication reads, "Ill.u.s.trissimis n.o.bilissimis Amplissimis Clarissimisque D. D. Dominis Ordinibus Provinciarum Foederis Belgici Dominis suis Clementissimis in a.s.siduae grat.i.tudinis memoriam dat, dicat dedicatque Ill.u.s.triss. Amplit. Vest. devotus Henricus Hondius." "To the Most Ill.u.s.trious, Most n.o.ble, Most Exalted, Most Renowned Lords of the United Provinces of Belgium, his Most Clement Masters, as a memorial of constant grat.i.tude, gives and dedicates to Your Ill.u.s.trious Highnesses (this globe). Henricus Hondius."

A copy of each of these globes of 1640 may be found in the library of the Seminario Vescovile of Portogruaro, a copy of each in the Biblioteca Quiriniana of Brescia, and one of each, though undated, in the Museo Civico of Vicenza.

If the Van Langren family and the Hondius family brought renown to their country through the excellence of their work in the field of cartography, so likewise did the Blaeu family, father and sons. Perhaps to Willem Jansz. Blaeu (Fig. 92) and his son, John, belongs first place in the long line of distinguished map and globe makers of the Netherlands.[19]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 92. Portrait of Willem Jansz. Blaeu.]

A record which finds general acceptance tells us that Willem Blaeu was born in the village of Alkmaar in the year 1571.[20] Of his childhood years very little is known. It was some time in his early boyhood that he went to Amsterdam, where he found employment, it appears, at first in the house of a Holland merchant, and later as a joiner's apprentice. We can be certain neither of the time when he decided to leave Amsterdam, nor of the exact circ.u.mstances which induced him to visit the island of Hveen, then belonging to Denmark, an event of much significance in his life. We, however, cannot be far wrong in a.s.serting the promptings for this visit to have been his early liking for mathematical, geographical, and astronomical studies. It was here that he first came into intimate relations with Tycho Brahe, the famous Danish astronomer, who, in the year 1576, through princely favor, came into possession of this island, and, as before noted, had erected here his remarkably well-appointed astronomical observatory, which he called Uranienburg.[21] For nearly a quarter of a century this was one of the most famous centers in all Europe for the study of astronomical science and of its practical application. Blaeu, however, was not the first of the young Netherlanders to find the way to Uranienburg to receive instruction from the great master.[22] Of his sojourn on the island we have but little direct information. It appears certain that he pa.s.sed at least two years with Tycho, engaged the while in study and in the construction of mathematical and astronomical instruments. That the relations between the two distinguished scientists continued to be of the most friendly character after Blaeu returned to Amsterdam is very certain. Not a few of those who in later years praised Blaeu's scientific attainments refer to him as "the pupil and longtime friend of Brahe," and Blaeu himself, in certain legends appearing on his globes and maps, refers to him as his teacher. It cannot be doubted that Blaeu owed to his abode on the Island of Hveen the real foundation of his scientific knowledge, both in the field of geography and astronomy, as well as his knowledge of the construction and the skilful use of mathematical instruments. We have reason for believing that a number of the instruments which served the great astronomer in his investigations[23] were the work of Blaeu, and it is an interesting fact, as we know, that Brahe's observations, here made, formed the basis for Kepler's calculations, leading him to the discovery of the laws which immortalized his name.[24]

It was perhaps late in the year 1596 or early in the year 1597 that Blaeu returned to Amsterdam, where he soon established himself as a maker of mathematical instruments, of maps and of globes, and as an engraver and printer. There is good reason for thinking that from the first he prospered in his undertakings, and, from incidental references to his activities, it may be inferred that it was not long after 1600 he was in his own fully equipped house. From his presses numerous works were issued, the many examples of which, still adorning the shelves of most prominent libraries, are a monument to his great abilities.

On his 'Paescarte,' one of his earliest publications,[25] and usually referred to the year 1606, we read that it was "Ghedruckt t' Amsterdam bij Willem Janssoon op't Waeter inde Sonnewijser," a location often referred to in certain later publications as "op' t water In de vergulde Sonnewyser," reference here being to the gilded sundial which, as a business sign, adorned the gable of his establishment. It appears that in this originally selected locality his work was carried on until the year 1637, when his entire plant was moved into more commodious quarters in the Blumengracht, one year only before his death. The sons, John and Cornelius, succeeded to the business, and to the former especially belongs the credit of issuing the most sumptuous atlas in that period of remarkable map making.[26] In the year 1672 practically the entire establishment was destroyed by fire.

Willem Blaeu's training admirably fitted him to serve his country in matters pertaining to its maritime interests, and its calls as well as its rewards for service were not infrequent. As proof of the confidence that his contemporaries had in his knowledge of geography and navigation, the Estates General of Amsterdam, January 3, 1633, by resolution, appointed him Map Maker of the Republic, an honorable position held by him until his death, then being successively pa.s.sed on to his son and to his grandson.[27]

We are told that Tycho had given to Blaeu a copy of his astronomical observations before their publication, that this copy was carried to Amsterdam, and that after a careful study of the records contained therein the latter began the practice of globe making.[28] The implication contained in this reference is that his first work as a globe maker was the preparation of material for a celestial globe, but no such globe of his, bearing date earlier than 1602, is known. His first dated work appears to have been a terrestrial globe of the year 1599. In many of its features it gives evidence that Mercator was the master followed, notably in the representation of the loxodromic lines which radiate from the numerous wind or compa.s.s roses, or from centers regularly placed on the surface of the globe.