Nassovia Comitatus

Antique map of the county of Nassau by J. Hondius. Shows the Westerwald and the Taunus with the Lahn river basin (from Lollar to Lahnstein) in the center. With Koblenz, Wiesbaden, Gießen, Olpe, Limburg and Wetzlar. From the Mercator-Hondius Atlas of 1633, French text on verso.

Centerfold backed in upper and lower margin. Very good condition.

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.