IRLANDIA
£285
Charming map of Ireland with the North at right from the Mercator Hondius "Atlas Minor" published in Amsterdam in 1628 at Jannsonius with french text on verso. In 1607 Jodocus Hondius published a reduced size version of Mercator's "Atlas", itself suitably titled "Atlas Minor". The maps were copied from those of the great cartographer Mercator of around 1580-90 or were reductions of Hondius' own maps of 1606.
Almost 20 years later Joannes Janssonius commissioned this new set of copperplates to be engraved by Pieter Van Den Keere (Kaerius) and Abraham Goos. These maps were elegantly designed with decorative title cartouches, finely engraved and surprisingly detailed for their dimensions. Rarer than the Mercator Hondius plate.
Excellent hand colour
Very good condition.
Koeman "Atlantes Neerlandici"
code : M4952
Cartographer : JANSSONIUS Johannes Jansson
Date : 1610 / 1628 Amsterdam
Size : 14*19cms
availability : Available
Price : £285
Johannes Janssonius Jr. (1588-1664) was the son of the bookseller and publisher, Johannes Janssonius of Arnhem (ie. Janssonius, the elder). The elder Janssonius of Arnhem acted as co-publisher, with Cornelis Claesz, of the early editions of Hondius' "Atlas Minor".
Janssonius Jr. married Jodocus Hondius' daughter Elisabeth in 1612. From about 1633 onwards Janssonius' name and imprint started appearing on the Mercator/Hondius "Atlas ..." After 1636 the name of the "Atlas ..." was changed to "Atlas Novus "with Janssonius being responsible, in the main, for its publication.
The "Atlas Novus" was expanded by Janssonius over the years of its publication in an attempt to rival Blaeu's "Atlas Maior" for size and quality. Janssonius' "Atlas Novus" eventually comprised six volumes with a nautical atlas and an atlas of the ancient world included. The maps were relatively similar format to those of Blaeu, although a difference in style is certainly discernible.
Janssonius also issued an "Atlas Maior" of his own, again in competition with Blaeu, but this was not issued as regularly as the Blaeu version. The "Atlas Maior" comprised some ten volumes - eleven if the Cellarius celestial volume is included.
