Pieter van der Aa

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.

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