This detailed and decorative map of Northern Africa provides a richly annotated view of the northernmost part of Africa and the Mediterranean coastline, filled with imaginative details and artistic flourishes typical of 17th-century cartography.
The map extends from Morocco in the west to the Nile Delta in the east, with vast and largely speculative regions in the interior. Adorned with illustrations of exotic animals such as elephants, ostriches, antelopes, and monkeys, the map also features fanciful depictions of mythical creatures, including a pair of dragons. The Nile River is particularly emphasized, with a charming barge depicted at its mouth. Scattered throughout the map are several notes and descriptive paragraphs, each offering insight into the geography and local culture as understood by contemporary European mapmakers.
Some of the most interesting notes includes:
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Nubia Region: The text reads: "Once Christian lands, today they scarcely practice any religion. The region is extremely rich in gold, ivory, and fertile grains. The principal city is Dangala, known for its houses made of clay."
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Nile River Irrigation: The text states: "The Nile floods every year, irrigating the land and making it wonderfully fertile."
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Guangara Kingdom: The text reads: "The indigenous people are very wealthy merchants. Not far from this town, gold is found in great abundance."
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Zanfara Region (likely Hausa States or Western Sudan): The text mentions: "Here the Niger River conceals itself underground for 60 miles and then reemerges into a lake."
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Cano Kingdom: The text states: "The Kingdom of Cano is abundant in grain, rice, and cotton. The people of Cano are rich merchants and skilled artisans, lovers of the city. Cano is surrounded by walls made of brick."
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Libyan Desert: The text reads: "The Libyan Desert, once known as 'Deserta Libyes,' is divided into five barren regions extending from the Atlas Mountains to the Nile River. These include Zanaga, Zuenziga, Iarga, Lemta, and Berdoha. All these deserts are very arid and unproductive, and while there are infrequent oases, palm trees are common."
These vignettes, while reflecting the geographical knowledge and misconceptions of the 17th century, also provide a fascinating window into how Europeans viewed Africa—a continent of untapped wealth, ancient civilizations, and mysterious lands. The ornamental and illustrative aspects of the map serve not only as decoration but also as a form of narrative, telling the story of a continent from a European perspective rooted in exploration, commerce, and imagination.
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.