press, and where they are left for a considerable time. In the story above is a table for the same purpose just indicated, at the extreme end of which, and over the room occupied by the proof-readers, is the type foundry wherein the letters used in the printing of the various languages are moulded. The foundation of this splendid building was laid in the year 1636, by John Blaeu’s oldest son Willem Blaeu,[10] and on the 13th of the fall month of the following year the printing establishment was here set in order. The original founder of the printing house, who died in the following year, was John Blaeu’s art loving father Willem, who, for a considerable time, had been a pupil of the great astronomer Tycho Brahe, whom he zealously followed, constructing many instruments for the advancement of astronomical studies, for the promotion of the art of navigation, and of other sciences of like character, an interest in all of which he revived and furthered while at the same time he made new discoveries, as has become widely known from the publications which have issued from this printing house. But why should we here give to them such unbounded praise? Since father and son without eulogy from us are so well known to the entire learned world, to which they have presented such treasures of inestimable value through their incomparable pains and at great cost, and are so far advanced on the road to immortality, it is more becoming in us to remain silent than to speak further concerning them.” Before turning for a reference more in detail to the publications which were issued by the Blaeu press, to a consideration of Willem Blaeu’s most important work as engraver, as globe maker, as printer and publisher of maps and navigators’ charts, a further brief word may be said touching certain general interests and activities of his, touching certain personal relations and individual characteristics, which support the conclusion that he was a man justly held in the highest esteem by men of science of his day, and that he was interested in whatever pertained to his great field of study.