Acquired From: Leen Helmink
Colouring: Coloured
Condition: Good
Confirmed: No
Description: Johannes Janssonius was born into a family of publishers and booksellers, gaining expertise in book printing from a young age. In 1612, he married Elisabeth Hondius, the daughter of the renowned mapmaker Jodocus Hondius I (View Record (#80), View Record (#212), View Record (#253), View Record (#272)) and his wife, Colette (View Record (#113)). Six years later, Janssonius established his own cartographic shop next door to his competitor, Willem Blaeu (View Record (#9), View Record (#76), View Record (#108), View Record (#121), View Record (#351), View Record (#358)). nAfter the death of Hondius in 1650, Janssonius took over the business. In 1653, he acquired nearly 500 plates of Civitates orbis terrarium from Abraham Hogenberg (View Record (#153), View Record (#321), View Record (#360), View Record (#400), View Record (#423), View Record (#424)). Four years later Janssonius published an eight-volume town atlas of plans and views of the major towns of the world using many of Civitates orbis terrarium plates. nEach volume has its own titlepage of the geographical area it covers. The last volume, titled Theatrum in quo visuntur Illustriores Hispaniae urbes covered the towns of Spain and other more famous towns to the east and south. It included this title page, which depicts an architectural structure flanked by two obelisks. At the top, possibly Justice and Peace establish civic virtue as the interpretive key.Within the structure appear additional emblematic figures including the Four Continents, and background details (such as a building under construction) reinforce themes of civic order, labour, and cultural making. Below, a gathering of elite male figuresincluding an Ottoman/Turkish presencesignals the geopolitical horizon of the volumes east and south ambit. The page thus blends virtues, global allegory, and architectural staging to frame urban topography as ethically and politically charged knowledge.
Engraver: Wenceslaus, Hollar, (1607-1677)
First published: Theatrum in quo visuntur illustriones Hispaniae Urbes aliaeque ad Orientum & austrum Civitates celebriores Vol. 8, Amsterdam: Johannes Janssonius, 1657
Image Size (cm): 35.3×22.5
Mapmaker: Janssonius, Johannes (1588-1664)
Notes: Purchase details
Other states: First 1657
Price: 300
Primary Category: Titlepage
Rarity: R2 Very rare – one or two copies appear on the market
References: Peter C.J. van der Krogt, 'Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici'. New Edition. Vol. IV (3 Vols.) 42:16 pg 285
Sheet size (cm): 39.5×25.5
Technique: Copper Engraving
This state: 1657 (undated)
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