Rare and important map of the Nordics up for sale at Stockholms Auktionsverk

On December 10–11, “Orbis Arctoi Nova et Accurata Delineatio” – Andreas Bureus’ rare large wall map of the Nordic countries from 1626 – will go under the hammer at Stockholms Auktionsverk. The impressive map (measuring approximately 140 x 160 centimeters) symbolizes the rising power of the Swedish Empire during the reign of king Gustavus Adolphus. It depicts all Nordic countries except Iceland, the Baltic States, and parts of northern Germany. The map was created by the mathematician, war councilor, and cartographer Andreas Bureus (1571-1546) – knighted Anders Bure in 1624.

Bureus, one of Sweden’s pioneering cartographers, is still revered as a luminary in his field, often hailed as the father of Swedish cartography. The National Library in Stockholm can also attest to the rarity of this map, with only six known copies, all housed in esteemed libraries or archives. The wall map going under the hammer was discovered in the 1930s at Vartofta manor in Västergötland. This impressive wall map is extremely rare among private collectors and even rarer on the auction market – it was last sold in 1996. Moreover, most copies preserved today often lacks the surrounding text, which this copy still has large parts of.

“Orbis Arctoi Nova” was commissioned and financially sponsored by Gustavus Adolphus and is also dedicated to the king and his wife, queen Maria Eleonora, in the beautiful cartouche with portraits of the royal couple. The map was an essential political tool for the king and demonstrated Sweden’s newfound greatness. The map was also given to various European potentates, including the Holy Roman Emperor in Vienna.

“This map, a cornerstone of Swedish cartography, held international significance, shaping the world’s perception of the Nordic region until the 18th century. Its accuracy, except for the province of Skåne’s unusually triangular shape, was a testament to Bureus’s skill, given that he didn’t have access to the secret Danish base maps”, says Katharina Fahlstedt, chief curator of books, maps, and manuscripts at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

During the 16th and 17th century, wall maps were precious, prestigious objects that were available only to the wealthiest estates and families. Today, these are very hard to come by; few are preserved, mainly because of their utter size. A quality that made the maps particularly fragile and vulnerable to the ravages of time. The asking price for the “Orbis Arctoi Nova et Accurata Delineatio” by Andreas Bureus is 3 200 000 SEK.

The Fine art & Antiques catalog will be published online on November 21. The hammer auction on December 10–11 will take place online and at Nybrogatan 32, the viewing will be open on December 4–9.