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Description

Extremely rare map of America first issued by Jan Jansson in 1623. The first edition of the map was issued separately and is known in only 1 example (Library of Congress). This is the rare 2nd state of the map, which retains the set of 6 views at the bottom of the map. While at first blush the map appears similar to Blaeu's America, there are a number of differences. Jansson's map includes views of North America, including the Poeiock Village in North Carolina & views of Carolina and St. Augustine. The penninsular California is retained, with the extended Northwest Coast including definitive place names north of 40 degrees. The East Coast of North America is rich with Indian names. The polar region inset is derived from Blaeu's wall map of 1608, as are the towns illustrated along the top. The second state is identical to the first, but for the chip in the upper right corner. Burden noted that only there are only 4 known examples of Jansson's 1630 Atlas Appendix which include this map and 1 known example in the 1631 Atlas Appendix. Burden 207. A gorgeous example, with a rich dark impression. The only uncolored example of the map have which has appeared on the market in the past 10 years of which we are aware. Old tape residue in the margins and a faint waterstain on the left edge.

Jan Jansson Biography

Jan Janssonius (also known as Johann or Jan Jansson or Janszoon) (1588-1664) was a renowned geographer and publisher of the seventeenth century, when the Dutch dominated map publishing in Europe. Born in Arnhem, Jan was first exposed to the trade via his father, who was also a bookseller and publisher. In 1612, Jan married the daughter of Jodocus Hondius, who was also a prominent mapmaker and seller. Jonssonius’ first maps date from 1616.

In the 1630s, Janssonius worked with his brother-in-law, Henricus Hondius. Their most successful venture was to reissue the Mercator-Hondius atlas. Jodocus Hondius had acquired the plates to the Mercator atlas, first published in 1595, and added 36 additional maps. After Hondius died in 1612, Henricus took over publication; Janssonius joined the venture in 1633. Eventually, the atlas was renamed the Atlas Novus and then the Atlas Major, by which time it had expanded to eleven volumes. Janssonius is also well known for his volume of English county maps, published in 1646.

Janssonius died in Amsterdam in 1664. His son-in-law, Johannes van Waesbergen, took over his business. Eventually, many of Janssonius’ plates were sold to Gerard Valck and Pieter Schenk, who added their names and continued to reissue the maps.