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Description

Fine original antique map of southwestern France, showing the rural area surrounding the Mont-de-Marsan and Roquefort in Gascogne. This decorative map was published by Jan Jansson in Amsterdam in the latter part of the 17th century and credits Pierre De Val (apparently the French cartographer Pierre Duval) as the mapmaker.

The map shows the region along the Adour River in great detail, showing a number of forests, cities, hills, and other features. Particular attention is paid to details, typical of Jansson's maps which were drawn from the best local sources. Decorative elements include three cartouches, of which one is a legend in both French and Latin.

This region is, of course, most well known for its cheeses, although it is also a significant wine producer. It is one of the more heavily forested parts of France and a highly attractive part of the country.

Condition Description
Original hand-color. Nice wide margins. Minor tear in upper left, with minor reinstatement of paper near bottom centerfold. Reinforced with archival tape on verso.
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.

Pierre Du Val Biography

Pierre Duval (1618-1683) was a French geographer, cartographer, and publisher who worked in Abbeville and Paris during the seventeenth century. He was born in the former city, in northeast France, before moving to Paris. Duval was the nephew of the famous cartographer Nicolas Sanson, from whom he learned the mapmaker's art and skills. Both men worked at the royal court, having followed the royal request for artists to relocate to Paris. In addition to numerous maps and atlases, Du Val's opus also includes geography texts. He held the title of geographe ordinaire du roi from 1650 and died in 1683, when his wife and daughters took over his business.