Title of the map :

"Insulae de Cabo Verde Olim Hesperides sive Gorgades : Belgice De Loute Eylanden"

Large antique copper engraved sea chart of Cape Verde islands, by Jan or Johan Janssonius (or Jansson) (1588-1664). 

The place names, anchorages, navigational hazards, and topography on the islands are shown. The map is adorned with a compass rose and an elaborate strapwork title cartouche featuring fruits, grains, and livestock.

Size with margins :  60,2 x 50,4 cm / 23,6 x 19,6 inches

Edition : Amsterdam, c. 1646, 17th century, Latin edition.

Condition : good condition, some foxing, old colors.

Jan Jansson, or Johannes Janssonius, or Jan Janszoon (1588-1664) was a Dutch cartographer and publisher who lived and worked in Amsterdam in the 17th century. He produced his first maps of France and Italy in 1616.  In 1623 Janssonius owned a bookstore in Frankfurt am Main, later also in Danzig, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Königsberg, Geneva and Lyon. He formed a partnership with his brother in law Henricus Hondius, and together they published atlases as Mercator/Hondius/Janssonius.

Under the leadership of Janssonius, the Hondius Atlas was steadily enlarged. Renamed Atlas Novus, it had three volumes in 1638, one fully dedicated to Italy. In 1646, a fourth volume came out with "English County Maps", a year after a similar issue by Joan Blaeu. Janssonius' maps are similar to those of Blaeu, and he is often accused of copying from his rival, but many of his maps predate those of Blaeu and/or covered different regions. By 1660, at which point the atlas bore the appropriate name "Atlas Major", there were 11 volumes, containing the work of about a hundred credited authors and engravers. It included a description of "most of the cities of the world" (Townatlas), of the waterworld (Atlas Maritimus in 33 maps), and of the Ancient World (60 maps). The eleventh volume was titled Atlas of the Heavens (a type of celestial cartography) by Andreas Cellarius. Editions were printed in Dutch, Latin, French, and a few times in German.

After Janssonius's death, the publishing company was continued by his son-in law, Johannes van Waesbergen. The London bookseller Moses Pitt attempted publication of the Atlas Major in English, but ran out of resources after the fourth volume in 1683.

WE DON'T SELL LASER AND COPIES MAPS, ALL WE SELL IS ORIGINAL AND ANTIQUE

Due to the age an type of paper, some imperfections are to be expected. Please examine the images provided carefully, and if you have any questions please ask and we will be happy to help you

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A Certification of Authenticity can be issued on request.