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This 17th-century map presents a highly detailed depiction of Lake Geneva and its surrounding regions. This edition of the map was published by Valk & Schenk, who have partially re-engraved an earlier map by Jan Jannson.
The geographical orientation follows the modern convention, with north positioned at the top, in contrast to earlier versions where south appeared at the upper margin. The map displays a meticulously engraved landscape, showcasing the political divisions, mountain ranges, forests, rivers, and towns around Lake Geneva. Settlements such as Geneva, Lausanne, and Vevey are prominently marked, with their respective territorial jurisdictions outlined in delicate hand-coloring. The map extends into parts of France (Burgundy and Savoy) and Switzerland (Helvetii), illustrating the transnational importance of the region.
The map is embellished with elaborate decorative elements, including a grand title cartouche in the lower right corner, featuring allegorical figures, putti, and heraldic symbols. The coat of arms of Geneva is prominently displayed, held by two classical figures, one dressed as a warrior and the other as a guardian. A second cartouche in the upper left provides dedication information framed by architectural motifs and ornamental flourishes, reinforcing the Baroque aesthetic of the composition. Additionally, the inclusion of sailing vessels on the lake enhances the map’s dynamic visual appeal.
The cartographic lineage of this map traces back to Jodocus Hondius, who first published Goulart’s survey in 1606 with an illustrated border featuring portraits of notable figures. The map was later reoriented with north at the top and republished by Arnoldus Florent van Langren and Jan Baptist Vrients, appearing in late editions of Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. It subsequently became part of the Hondius-Jansson school of cartography, with a variant publsiehd by Willem Blaeu.
The present example is the final appearance of this edition of the map.
Peter Schenk the Elder (1660-1711) moved to Amsterdam in 1675 and began to learn the art of mezzotint. In 1694 he bought some of the copperplate stock of the mapmaker Johannes Janssonius, which allowed him to specialize in the engraving and printing of maps and prints. He split his time between his Amsterdam shop and Leipzig and also sold a considerable volume of materials to London.
Peter Schenk the Elder had three sons. Peter the Younger carried on his father’s business in Leipzig while the other two, Leonard and Jan, worked in Amsterdam. Leonard engraved several maps and also carried on his father’s relationship with engraving plates for the Amsterdam edition of the Histoire de l'Académie Royale des Sciences.
Gerard Valk, or Gerrit Leendertsz Valck (1652-1726) together with his son Leonard, were the only significant publishers of globes in the Netherlands in the eighteenth century, enjoying an almost total monopoly in the first half of the 1700's. Initially an engraver and art dealer, and having worked for map-sellers Christopher Browne and David Loggan in London between 1672 and 1679, Valk established the firm in Amsterdam in 1687. Initially, they published maps and atlases, but in 1700 the company moved the shop to the building previously occupied by map and globe-maker Jodocus Hondius. In 1701, he applied for a charter for making globes and the "Planetolabium", designed by Lotharius Zumbach de Coesfelt (1661-1727), an astronomy lecturer at Leiden University. The Valks produced several editions of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24-inch diameter terrestrial and celestial globes. The cartography, as stated on the cartouche, is based closely on the celestial atlas Uranographia, published in 1687 by the celebrated Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687).
Around 1711, when he became a member of the bookseller's guild, Leonard Valk (1675-1746) came into partnership and his name started to appear alongside that of his father on the cartouches of the globes, although the earliest of these, both terrestrial and celestial, still bear the date 1700. Leonard naturally took over the business on his father's death in 1726, and following his own death in 1746 the firm was run by Maria Valk, cousin, and wife to Gerard. By then its days of glory had passed. Leonard Valk died in relative poverty: his wife had to take in the washing of their aunt to make ends meet. The late eighteenth century saw a number of successful reissues by publisher Cornelis Covens (1764-1825), who ran the famous cartographical publishing house of Covens & Mortier (1721-1866) in Amsterdam. This firm was the biggest Dutch one for publishing maps in the 18th century. It was located on the Vijgendam (Fig Dam), the southern part of what is now Dam Square, the central hub of the city. They didn't move out of their building, but they did change addresses. At first in 1795 the whole Dam was rebaptized into Revolution Square, then it got the name Napoleon Square, till in 1813 after Napoleon's fall Covens & Mortier were back again at the Vijgendam.
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