A very attractive map of Wiltshire by Joan Blaeu (1598-1673) published just four years into the English Civil War. On the left side below the title cartouche are twelve coats of arms of the nobility of the county, two more are blank. Upper right are the Royal Coat of arms, Lower right is a surveyor in discussion with a passing gentleman horse rider. It appeared in the fourth volume of Joan Blaeu’s ‘Theatrum Orbis Terrarum’, covering England and Wales. Willem Blaeu established his firm in 1599 as instrument and globe makers. He went on to produce some of the highest quality atlases ever published. Blaeu’s first topographical atlas appeared in 1630 in one volume and was gradually expanded. By 1640 his son Joan Blaeu was running the business and the work was in three volumes and contained just four British Isles maps. His chief rival, the Hondius-Jansson publication, contained 18 maps. Both joined a race to produce a volume of the British Isles. Blaeu was first, publishing this magnificent work in 1645, one year before that of Jansson’s. The work of Blaeu set a standard of design, beauty and quality that arguably has never been surpassed. This is an example from the French edition of 1645. Provenance: private English collection. Chubb (1911) pp. 220-21; Koeman (1967-70) Bl 42A pp. 173 no. 307; Skelton (1970) 28 & 29; Van der Krogt (1997-2010) 2:311.