Pieter van der Aa (Leiden, 1659 – Leiden, August 1733) was a Dutch publisher best known for preparing maps and atlases, though he also printed pirated editions of foreign bestsellers and illustrated volumes. He also printed many maps that were often out of print, which he reissued. Some of his most popular maps were of the African continent, detailing locations such as Morocco and Madagascar. Many of his later works were printed for the general public in French and Dutch.

Early life and family

Pieter van der Aa (1659–1733) was born in Leiden, one of the leading centres of printing and publishing in the Dutch Republic. He came from a family connected with the book and print trades. His father was a stonecutter from Holstein; his brother Boudewyn was a printer and his other brother Hildebrand a copper plate engraver. By his early twenties, he had established his own business in Leiden as a printer, publisher, and bookseller, laying the foundation for his later work as a publisher of maps and illustrated books.

His ambition to become Leiden's most famous printer was fulfilled in 1715 with his appointment to head printer for the city and its university.

Published atlases

  • Nouvel Atlas
  • and the sixty-six volume Galerie Agréable du Monde [Leiden, 1728], of which only 100 copies are said to have been printed.
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – F. Draakx schipvaart door de straat en Zuyd Zee gedaan om de gantsen aardkloot. – Leiden, Van der Aa 1706-08 [16 x 23,2 cm]
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – Zee-togten door Thomas Candys na de West Indien, en van daar rondom den gantzen aardkloot gedaan.
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – *T Noorder deel van Amerika. Door C.Kolumbus in zyn.. Leiden, Van der Aa 1706–08 [16 x 23,6 cm]
  • Van der AA, Pieter – Amerika of de Nieuwe Weereld Aller eerst Door C. Kolumbus; Leiden, 1705
  • Van der Aa, Piter – Niew (Niue) Engeland in twee Scheeptogten door..John Smith.. Leiden, 1705
  • Vander Aa, Pieter – De voor Eylanden van America.. Florida, New Mexico,... Leiden, 1705
  • Van der Aa, Pieter, T Vaste Land van Darien ten Zuiden Cuba en Hispaniola Gelege – Leiden, 1705
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – Cuba en Jamaica, soo als die door Kolombus.. Leiden, 1705
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – Reys togt door Thomas Coryat van Jerusalem; Leiden, 1705
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – De zee en land-reysen vandenridder Hendrik Blunt.; Leiden, 1705
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – Melite Insula vulgo Malta; Leiden, 1712
  • Van der Aa, Pieter – Valetta Civitas Nova Maltae olim Millitae; Leiden, 1712
  • The plates in the Leiden University Catalogus librorum of 1716 in Quaerendo, 22, 1992, p. 271–284, ill.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">

File:Map-of-Turkey-and-Cyprus.jpg|Map of Turkey and Cyprus, 1719

File:Hermann Paradisus Batavus.jpg|Paradisus Batavus by Paul Hermann

File:A lady and gentleman of Goa.jpg|A lady and gentleman of Goa

File:Pieter van der Aa - The Coast of Arabia the Red Sea, and Persian Sea of Bassora Past the Straits of Hormuz.tif|The Coast of Arabia the Red Sea, and Persian Sea of Bassora Past the Straits of Hormuz to India, Gujarat and Cape Comorin, 1707

File:Van der Aa De Stadt Alexandrie 1720 UTA.jpg|Map of Alexandria, 1720

File:Venice 1762 by Pieter van der Aa.jpg|Map of Venice, 1762

File:1720 Engraving of Brussels.png|Hand coloured engraving of Brussels as viewed from outside the city walls, 1720.

File:English Quakers Tobacco Planters and Slaves, Barbados, 17th cent. (colorized).jpg|English Quakers Tobacco Planters and Slaves, Barbados, 17th cent.

</gallery>

References

  • Various maps by van der Aa Eran Laor Cartographic Collection. The National Library of Israel
  • Objects related to Pieter van der Aa in the Urus : Techniques and Reception of Graphic Art in Central and Eastern Europe (15th–18th centuries) database