1657 Jansson Map of Germany (Germania)

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Title:    Germaniae Veteris Nova Descriptio.

Description:    This is a remarkable example of Jan Jansson's 1657 mapping of Germany in antiquity. Depicts a richly forested region covering from Gaul to Dacia and from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea. Cartographically this map exhibits heavy influence from a very similar map of the same name published by A. Ortelius in his 1597 Parergon. Based on Greek and Roman sources including Pliny, Strabo, Virgil, Ceasar, and others. Ships and monsters decorate the seas. A decorative title cartouche depicting curious warlike figures in animal skins appears in the lower right quadrant. A second cartouche appears in the lower left. This remarkable map was published in volume six, the Orbis Antiquus, of Jan Jansson's Novus Atlas.

Date:    1657 (undated)

Source:    Jansson, J., Novus Atlas, Sive Theatrum Orbis Terrarum: In quo Orbis Antiquus, Seu Geographia Vetus, Sacra & Profana exhibetur, Volume 6, 1657.

References:    Koeman, C., Atlantes Neerlandici, Me 177A, 50. Van der Krogt, P. C. J., Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici, 2000H:1B. Keuning, J., "The Novus Atlas of Johannes Janssonius", Imago Mundi, Vol. 8 (1951), pp. 71-98, no. 976.

Cartographer:    Jan Jansson or Johannes Janssonius (1588 - 1664) was born in Arnhem, Holland. He was the son of a printer and bookseller and in 1612 married into the cartographically prominent Hondius family. Following his marriage he moved to Amsterdam where he worked as a book publisher. It was not until 1616 that Jansson produced his first maps, most of which were heavily influenced by Blaeu. In the mid 1630s Jansson partnered with his brother-in-law, Henricus Hondius, to produce his important work, the eleven volume Atlas Major. About this time, Jansson's name also begins to appear on Hondius reissues of notable Mercator/Hondius atlases. Jansson's last major work was his issue of the 1646 full edition of Jansson's English Country Maps. Following Jansson's death in 1664 the company was taken over by Jansson's brother-in-law Waesberg. Click here for a list of rare maps from Jan Jansson or Johannes Janssonius.

Size:   Printed area measures 19.5 x 15.5 inches (49.53 x 39.37 centimeters)

Condition:    Very good. Exceptional dark impression. Blank on verso.

Code:   Germaniae-jansson-1657 (Necessary for phone inquiries: 646-320-8650)