Blonk - Hollandia Comitatus

Over a hundred maps from the period of 1542 to the beginning of the Kingdom of the Netherlands show the results of impoldering, peat cutting and town extensions in the provinces of North and South Holland. Many maps from this period are richly decorated. Besides the geographical and cartographical developments this book also gives a good picture of the developments which took place in the artistic field. Hollandia Comitatus is the first volume of the series Utrechtse Historisch-Kartografische Studies (Utrecht Historio-Cartographical Studies) which were accomplished under the auspices of the Research Group Explokart of the Faculty of Geographical Sciences of the University of Utrecht.

Explokart aims to provide users of old maps with a thorough research tool by classifying map material and making it accessible. The publications prepared by and published under the auspices of Explokart are intended for scientific researchers and interested laypersons alike. Expertly guided by Günter Schilder, Peter van der Krogt and Paul van den Brink, the authors, Dirk Blonk and Joanna Blonk-van der Wijst, have written a standard work on the maps of Holland. After an extensive introduction they describe all the maps in a clear and systematic way.

All the maps discussed are accompanied with beautiful illustrations; from some of the maps even several versions are included. As in each map all states are mentioned, this publication is a particularly useful book, especially so for map collectors.

Cloth, full colour dustjacket, 32 x 24 cm. 310 illustrations. 488 pp. Including an extensive summary of 30 pages in English.