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Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula - Hondius H. - Janssonius J., 1639-44.



Double hemisphere, with corner portraits of J. Caesar, Cl. Ptolemy, G. Mercator & J. Hondius. Insular California.

First state

Date of this print: 1639-44
Date of the first edition: 1631
Date on map: 1630

Copper engraving
Size: 38 x 54.5cm (14.8 x 21.2 inches)
Verso text: French
Condition: Old coloured, minor offsetting and spotting, lower centrefold split reinforced, good.
Condition Rating: B+
References: Shirley (World), 336, State 1; Van der Krogt 1, 0001:1C.1.

From: Nouveau Theatre du Monde ou Nouvel Atlas. Amsterdam, J. Janssonius, 1639-44. (Van der Krogt 1, 412)

"In 1629, threatened by pending competition from W.J. Blaeu and his sons, Jan Jansson and his partner Henricus Hondius set about revising the Mercator-Hondius atlas which (in respect of the world map) had continued unchanged for nearly thirty-five years. The partners' new world map is a fine ornate example of the decorative cartography of the time. The two hemispheres are bordered by voluptuous representations of the four elements and other scenes: in the top corners are portraits of Julius Caesar and Claudius Ptolemy and in the bottom corners are protraits of the author's father Jodocus Hondius and his mentor Gerard Mercator.
For geographical detail Hondius has followed Speed and his contemporaries and also presents California as an island. New features include part of the north Australia coastline extending towards New Guinea and a redrawing of north-east Canada with 'Queen Ann's forland' (Baffin Island) shown completeley encircled by open water.
The Hondius-Jansson world map had as a long a life as its predecessor, as it was included in all issues of the Mercator atlas from 1633 until at least 1658. Four states have been traced with dates on the map as follows:

State 1 1630
State 2 1641 with Amstelodami Excudit Ioannes Ianssonius added at the bottom
State 3 1663 in Atlas Contractus of Jan Jansson and in sea atlases of Van Loon
State 4 1666 in Atlas Major of Jan Jansson " (Shirley)

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