A rare copy of what is said to be the world’s most spectacular atlas, made by master Dutch map maker Johannes Blaeu, will come under the hammer at auction at Sotheby’s later this month.

The hand-coloured atlas consists of nine volumes with 600 engraved maps and is expected to raise up to €270,000 when it comes up for sale on April 26.

The Atlas Major is said to be the most expensive publication of the 17th century. This copy belonged to the wealthy Van de Werve family, whose coat of arms is in gilt on the bindings.

Sotheby’s head of books, David Goldthorpe, told the Daily Mail: ‘This is undoubtably the most spectacular altas ever produced, many copies of which were presented throughout Europe as a tangible symbol of the Republic of the United Netherlands.’

Volume III focuses on the Netherlands and the United Netherlands, dates from 1664 and contains 65 maps.

Johannes is the son of Willem Blaeu, who moved to Amsterdam in around 1604 and began selling scientific instruments, globes and maps. He and his son later moved into publishing their own maps as head cartographers for the Dutch East India Company.