The first state of a map of the British Isles published by Pierre van der Aa (1659-1733). He was born in Leiden, the son of a stone cutter or sculptor. By the time he was but nine years old he was already apprenticed to a bookseller. By 1682 he was the owner of a bookshop and auction. His output is so large that Koeman was sure that there were works yet to be identified. His printed catalogue of 1729 alludes to the fact that works could be made to order. Amongst these publications is arguably the biggest atlas ever published, the 66 volume ‘La Galerie Agreable du Monde’. Provenance: acquired from the Gebr. Haas in 2003. Koeman (1967-70) I pp. 1-30; Shirley (1988) Van der Aa 1.