A beautifully engraved map of the British Isles from the renowned Willem Blaeu (1571-1638). It features a great deal of detail and is representative of the newer Dutch style of engraving of the period. It includes an inset map of the Orkney Isles top right. The title is set in a handsome cartouche upper left which along with those containing the inset map, scale of miles and imprint are all beautifully wash coloured. The map was originally engraved by Jodocus Hondius (1594-1629), c.1625 with four ornate border panels and was separately published. Following his death it was acquired by Blaeu who first published it in the extremely rare ‘Atlantes Appendix’ retaining the borders. In 1631 Blaeu removed the borders and slightly enlarged the central map. It appeared in most of the Bleau atlases and specifically in the ‘Atlas Novus’ volume of England and Wales from 1645. This attractive example, with Latin text on the reverse appeared in the 1640 edition. Koeman Bl 43A; Skelton 28; Van der Krogt, P. (Atlantes) 5750:2; Schilder (2000) p. 359; Shirley 411. Provenance: acquired from Doreen Green 1993; private English collection.