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Scarce plan of Damascus which appeared in Jansson's book in 1657.
This 1657 hand-colored, copper engraved map offers a detailed bird’s-eye view of Damascus, titled Damascvs urbs nobilissima ad Libani montem, Syriae metropolis.
During the 17th century, Damascus was a prominent city within the Ottoman Empire, known for its strategic location and cultural significance. As the capital of Syria, it was a central hub for trade, politics, and religion. This map, produced during a period of extensive European cartographic exploration, reflects the city's intricate urban layout and its geographical importance.
The map illustrates Damascus enclosed within its ancient city walls, capturing the essence of its urban landscape. The city is depicted with a high degree of detail, showcasing its mosques, palaces, and public buildings. The Barada River, essential for the city's irrigation and daily life, is prominently featured flowing through the cityscape.
In the foreground, figures in contemporary attire, including a camel rider, emphasize the city's role as a vibrant center of trade and culture. The mountainous terrain in the background adds to the map's topographical accuracy, situating Damascus in its natural setting near the Anti-Lebanon mountain range.
Based upon the earlier plan of Braun & Hogenberg, this view is very rare on the market.
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.
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