CALABRIA ULTRA Olim Altera Magnæ Græciæ Pars. Original 17th century hand colored leaf from Jan Blaeu's Grooten Atlas, Dutch edition of the iconic Atlas Maior, published in Amsterdam in 1664.

Imperial Folio: sheet is 23.5" x 19.75," plate is 19.5" x 15"

Strong impression, the plate has some small wrinkles, tiny abrasions and light toning on the fold line but remains colorful, solid and bright. The margins of the sheet, not affecting the plate, show wear, shorelining, finger smudging, small staining, edgewear and edge tears. The Dutch text on the verso is fully legible and the decorative initial and printers device are very lovely. A Very Good 362 year old map of southern Italy.

Dutch Cartographer Jan Blaeu (1596-1673), from Atlas Maior volume seven covering Italy & Greece with Dutch text on verso page 114. Copperplate engraving on watermarked handmade laid paper with contemporary hand coloring.

Originally designed based on the earlier cartography of Giovanni Antonio Magini (1555-1617) this map depicts Calabria Ultra, the southern tip of Italy flanked by the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas, includes prominent coastal features, islands, and settlements like Reggio Calabria and Tropea. This iconic Baroque engraving is wonderfully decorated with a large allegorical title cartouche, regional coats of arms, classic compass rose, sea monster, and intricate sailing ships traversing the Mediterranean trade routes that graphically capture this era of European maritime dominance.

Jan Blaeu's Atlas Maior is one of the most elaborate works in the history of cartography. When completed in 1665, it was the largest and most expensive book published in the 17th century.