Atlas contractus orbis terrarum praecipuas ac novissimas complectens tabulas.

Large folio: [2]-90 (of 91) maps-[2] pp., old hand-coloured (missing map: 41. Hannonia Comitatus, central foldings of several maps split: world map, Brussels, Antwerp etc.; detached and loosely inserted maps: 5. Sueciae et Norvegiae, 44. Mechlinia; some maps with large tear throughout, esp. 5. (Sweden) and 18. (Julich); marg. tears often repaired with adhesive tape, paper strokes pasted on the map of Brussels, several maps sl. browned).

Armorial binding in contemp. ivory vellum, gilt decorated covers with the coat of arms and devise "P[ugno] P[ro] P[atria]" of the "College Superintendent" of the Dutch Marine, flat spine (sl. used).

Rare Nicolas Visscher I atlas, including the printed index added after he was granted a patent in 1677. Most of the maps in the Atlas Contractus are by C.J. Visscher, N. Visscher, F. De Wit and J. Janssonius. Other maps included are by the heirs of J. Janssonius who sold by auction all remaining maps and atlases in 1676, just before this copy was most likely assembled. This copy has also the Italian editions of the itinerary map "Carta nova accurata del passagio et strada dalli Paesi Bassi" (Amsterdam, F. De Wit, 1671) and of the maps of Milan and the Papal States.
Enriched with: "Comitatus Hannoniae" (Nuremberg, J.B. Homann, s.d.).
Ref. Koeman III-Vis 8.
Prov. The crown with 3 bows was used since the 17th c. and thereafter by the Admiralty of Rotterdam.