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Description

Detailed map of America, which appeared in Jansson's Atlas Minor.

The most interesting element of the map is the massive land bridge, running from North America to Asia, with only two small breaks. This configuration was derived from the globe of Plancius and Van Den Keere of 1614, which were also engraved by Abraham Goos, the engraver of this map.

The curious coastline may be in response to the reported discoveries of Juan de Fuca, along the NW Coast of America. This map is noteworthy as the first depiction of this elongated coastline on a printed map. Fascinating treatment of the eastern coastline of North America. Also, the St. Lawrence River is shown extending to what would be modern day Colorado.

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.