Van der Krogt, P.C.J., Advertenties voor Kaarten, Atlassen, Globes e.d. in Amsterdamse Kranten 1621-1811. Utrecht: HES Uitgevers, 1985. ISBN 90-6194-055-9. 23xl5cm., xv, 473pp., cloth. (Oude Gracht 206, 3511 NR Utrecht, Holland, Dfl 156)

This book is similar to Sarah Tyacke's London Map-Sellers, which reprinted advertisements for map-related items in London newspapers.  This book covers Tijdinghen uyt Verscheyde Quartieren and Courante uyt Italien ende Duytschlandt, and several other papers from 1618 to 1663, and Amsterdamse Courant from 1672 to 1811.  The book is in Dutch, though there is an English translation of the introduction.  All sorts of material is included, such as atlases, individual maps, globes, books with maps, texts, instruments, and even address change notices.  The appropriate part of each advertisement is quoted verbatim (in Dutch).  Chronologically, the number of advertisements is: 1621-1649 (84), 1650-1699 (167), 1700-1749 (801), 1750-1799 (877), and 1800+ (252).  The index is very well prepared.  There are title and author indexes, some of the former being further subdivided geographically.  For example, under Books with Maps, we can look under America to find about 20 titles.  Under maps, the subdivision America lists 9 advertisements for later versions of the Popple map, and 9 theater of war maps, as well as many miscellaneous items.  Particularly numerous are van Keulen, Covens & Mortier, and Ottens ads.  There are of course ads by the Blaeus, Visschers, and other prominent names, as well as many of the more obscure cartographers.  Mentioning Dirk Jansz van Santen in an ad evidently helped sales, for his name appears frequently.  I spent quite a while pleasantly browsing back and forth between index and text.  Even bibles with maps appear.  Curiously, there appears to be no mention of Tirion's Nieuwe et Beknopte Handatlas, though many other Tirion ads were present.  I thought I might find mention of Koeman's Tir 1, the perhaps apocryphal atlas supposedly copied by Albrizzi in 1740. 1 have always suspected Albrizzi gave his atlas a fictitious early date for legal reasons.  Obviously this book belongs in the collection of every large map library.  I also think the larger dealers would find the advertisements helpful in researching items for sale, particularly with respect to the date of offering, the price (somewhat lower than today), and what the publisher said about the item.

David C. Jolly, 1989