Vectis Insula. Anglice The Isle of Wight.

A beautifully engraved map seventeenth-century map of the Isle of Wight, just off the southern English coast. Features a nice decorative title cartouche in lower left corner, with deer and ducks plus a coat of arms. A mileage scale, adorned with globe, in lower right corner. The upper left corner comprises four armorial shields. Latin text on verso. This first Latin edition was published during the English Civil War, during which Charles I was imprisoned at Carisbrook Castle prior to his execution.

Taken from Joan Blaeu's Le Theatre du Monde, ou Nouvelle Atlas, Mise en lumiere Par Guillaume et Jean Blaeu Quatriesme Partie. Amsterdami, Apud Iohannem Blaeu. MDCXLV. 1645. volume IV. The fourth volume of his atlas focused on England and Wales. Blaeu established his firm in 1599 as instrument and globe makers. He went on to produce some of the highest quality atlases ever published.
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was the founder of the Blaeu publishing house. In 1634 he commenced publication of the "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" or "Novus Atlas" and on his death he was succeeded by his son Johannes (1596-1673). Johannes continuously enlarged and updated the "Theatrum" up to 1658, including the addition of a separate volume devoted to England and Wales. Blaeu maps are renowned for the consummate care and attention apparent in every stage of production - using only the best paper with finely engraved plates and a high standard of printing. The county maps have decorative title cartouches and often depict the coats of arms of those families with important county links.