We are told that Tycho had given to Blaeu a copy of his astronomical observations before their publication, that this copy was carried to Amsterdam, and that on the record contained therein the latter began the practice of globe making. The implication contained in this reference is that his first work as a globe maker was the preparation of material for a celestial globe, but no such globe of his is known bearing date earlier than 1602. His first dated work appears to have been a terrestrial globe of the year 1599. It was as a maker and vender of mathematical instruments, as a collector and close student of maps geographical and astronomical, he probably found his chief employment during the first years after his return to the Netherlands. There is good reason for thinking that from the first he prospered in his undertakings, and that he was soon in a position to establish an independent business. It may be inferred from incidental references that it was not long after 1600 he was in his own fully equipped house engaged in the business of engraving and printing. Blaeu seems not to have become a member of any of the guilds in his adopted city, and we, therefore, cannot turn to their records for any information concerning his activities. His name first publicly appears in the records of the States General for the year 1605, in a resolution proposing that a sum of money should be granted to him for printing and publishing a NIEUW GRAETBOUCK, a name given at that time in the Netherlands to a book containing declination tables. This resolution reads as follows: “19 Maart 1605. Is Willem Jansz Blaeu tot Amsterdam geaccordeert octroy, omme voor den tyt van 6 jaren naestcomende alleene in de vereenichde provincien in druck vuyt to geven een bouxken, geintituleert: Nieuw graetbouck, nae den ouden styl vuyt de aldercorrecste observatien van den vermaerden astronomo Tycho Brahe, gecalculeert ende gestelt op ten meridiaen deser Nederlanden, enz.”[6] A copy of this work does not appear to be extant, but we may be able, as Baudet suggests, to obtain something of an idea of its character from later publications of Blaeu, as for instance from his “Licht der Zeevaert.” On his “Paescarte,” one of his early publications, and usually referred to the year 1606, we read that it was “Ghedruckt t’ Amsterdam bij Willem Janssoon op’t Waeter inde Sonnewijser,” a location often referred to in certain later publications as “op’ t water In de vergulde Sonnewyser,” reference being to the gilded sun-dial which as a business sign adorned the gable of his establishment.[7] It appears that in this originally selected locality his work was carried on until the year 1637, when his entire plant was moved into more commodious quarters in the Blumengracht, one year only before his death. On the death of Willem Blaeu, in 1638, the business passed into the hands of his sons John and Cornelius Blaeu. In 1672 practically the entire establishment was destroyed by fire.