Zee Custe van Sweeden Otrent de Westerwijk en Tgatt vann Stockholm Beginnende va Kalmar Tot sen Wigsteen en Rookoe Gelegen bijnnen Tgatt va Stockholm / Coste Marine de Suede a l’entour de Westerwijck & bouchede Stockholm ….

13 ¼ x 20 inches, Fine hand color; printer's crease, overall excellent condition.

Superb example of this richly engraved chart of the southeastern coast of Sweden from Öland to the approach to Stockholm. At the center of the chart is a magnificent compass rose, and the Baltic Sea – here called the Swedish Sea – is decorated with ships and sea monsters. On the verso is a detailed chart of the island of Gotland, (not present on in earlier editions).

Waghenaer’s charts combined reliable maritime information based on first hand experience with advanced, theoretical knowledge of navigation, all within a framework of opulent Dutch engraving by Johan van Doetichum. Waghenaer spent the first few decades of his career as a maritime pilot. Dutch commercial vessels during the period of his service confined their activities primarily to the Baltic and northern European areas to avoid conflict with the Spanish, who held the Netherlands under her sway at the time. These are the areas most thoroughly covered by Waghenaer’s atlas, although some charts do extend as far south as Spain.

The commercial success of Waghenaer’s atlas was proof of its quality and value to mariners of many nations. It was published in five languages and many editions for over a 20-year span. The first edition of first part of the atlas was issued in 1584; this chart is from the French edition of 1600.