This first issue has a diameter of 34 cm., which is less than that of Mercator’s globe of the year 1541, but greater than that of the Van Langren globe of the year 1585.[29] The gores, twelve in number, were cut seven degrees from the poles, the polar space being covered with a circular disc. Blaeu, as many other globe makers of his period, found that by thus dividing the engraved globe map a more nearly perfect covering for the sphere could be obtained. Meridians and parallels are drawn at intervals of ten degrees, the prime meridian passing through the island of Santa Maria in the Azores group. In a conspicuously placed cartouch he presents his address to the reader. “Spectatori meo S. Hanc terrae marisque faciem qui aspicis sic inspice ne dispicias: multa hic mutata, (sed nihil temere) quae, nisi attendas, facile fugiant. Ratio constructionis in multis nova, sed proba. Gibbum plano, planum globo commutavimus: duplicato labori: sed certiori: idque ut ventorum spirae justis per orbem trrarum gyris discurrerent: hinc factum ut in omnibus terrae oris praeter parallelorum et meridianorum etiam plagae ratio nobis fuerit habenda. Quae quidem omnia attento spectatori facile apparebunt. Vale et fruere. Guilielmus Jansonius Alcmariensis auctor et sculptor. 1599.” “Greeting to my observer. This representation of the earth and sea, which thou beholdest, be pleased to take note of in this manner. Many things here have been changed, but nothing without reason, and unless thou art attentive these things might easily escape thee. The method of construction is in many points new, but correct. We have changed that which is relief into the flat, and the flat into the globular, a double labor but more nearly correct, and we did this that the directions of the winds throughout the world might be given their proper (loxodromic) spirals: and we have made a representation of the coast lines of all shores of the earth, besides a representation of the parallels and meridians. All this will be seen by the attentive observer. Farewell, and may you be happy. William Jansz. Alcmar, author and sculptor. 1599.” Fiorini is of the opinion the expression “multa hic mutata” in the above quoted inscription indicates that the copies in which it is found are reprints of an earlier edition, and that it has been inserted for the purpose of keeping the globe on sale.[30] Is not the reference rather to this simple fact that Blaeu borrowed much of his geographical information from others, as he admits, including Mercator and Van Langren, and that he had merely altered the same to the end of bringing his records to date? The dedication reads “Noblissimis, Amplissimis, Clarissimis, D. D. Dominis Ordinibus Foederatarum Inferioris Germaniae Provinciarum dignissimis fidis Patriae Patribus hoc terrae marisque Theatrum L. M. Q. Dat, Dicat, Dedicat Cliens Vester subjectis. Guilielmus Jansonius Alcmarianus.” “To the Most Noble, Most