Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae Tabula.

Coloured map of the British Isles. Printed in Amsterdam by H. Hondius in 1633.

Reference 12816

Description

A beautifully ornate map of the British Isles by Henricus Hondius. At the top left corner, the title is elegantly presented within a lavishly adorned cartouche. To the top right, an exquisite cartouche features a map of the Orkney Islands. In the bottom left corner, there is a cartouche with a mileage scale. The map itself is a work of art, adorned with depictions of ships and three enchanting mermaids, each holding a flag representing England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Although it bears the date 1631, this relatively scarce map was only included in the Hondius-Janssonius atlas between 1633 and 1644. As Shirley observes, this map was among several introduced by Hondius and Janssonius in response to competition from the emerging Blaeu firm, which had just started venturing into the atlas market around the time of this map's publication. This competitive environment likely contributed to the map's enhanced visual appeal.

From the 1633 edition of the Hondius-Janssonius Atlas, French text on verso.

Details

Cartographer	Jodocus Hondius
Title	Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae Tabula.
Publisher, Year	H. Hondius, Amsterdam, 1633
Plate Size	38.0 x 51.0 cm (15.0 x 20.1 inches)
Sheet Size	47.7 x 57.0 cm (18.8 x 22.4 inches)
Reference	Shirley, R. W.: Printed Maps of the British Isles 1650-1750, 435; Van der Krogt, P.: Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici, 5000:1C

Condition

Left of the centerfold smoothed creases. Very good copy in attractive colors.

Cartographer

Jodocus Hondius was born 1563 in Wakken (West Flanders). He became a globe maker and map engraver. In 1593 he set up his business in Amsterdam after he spent several years in London. He was one of the most important engravers of his time and engraved maps for van den Keere, Waghenaer and Speed. Hondius bought the plates of Mercator in 1604, added around 40 maps and published the expanded Mercator-Atlas first 1606 still under Mercator's name. After his death 1612 in Amsterdam, the business was carried out by his sons Jodocus II and Henricus.

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Jodocus Hondius: Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae Tabula..

Coloured map of the British Isles. Printed in Amsterdam by H. Hondius in 1633.

British Isles - Hondius, Jodocus - Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae Tabula.