Atlas Contractus

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Colouring: Coloured

Condition: Good

Confirmed: No

Dealers ID No.: 19411

Description: After Janssonius's death in 1664, his brother-in-law Johannes Waesbergen took over the business. To honour Janssonius's legacy and maintain continuity, the firm continued to use the name "Joannis Janssonii Haeredes" (Heirs of Johannes Janssonius). Waesbergen oversaw the republication of several of Janssonius's earlier atlases, including the Atlas (or Atlantis) contractus. Intriguingly, this edition features two post-1664 titlepages, both erroneously dated MDLXVI (1556) instead of the correct year, 1666, as noted by Rodney Shirley. This discrepancy is evident on this title page from Volume 1 of the Atlas contractus. nZacharias Webber's design pays homage to the giants of mapmaking. The central figures, three renowned mapmakers, are seated around a truncated columnar table: Gerard Mercator, distinguished by his black flat cap, is deeply absorbed in a map, a pair of dividers in hand. To his right, Jodocus Hondius, Janssonius's father-in-law, is lost in thought. On the far right, Janssonius himself, wearing a black skullcap, points towards America, directly engaging the viewer.nA female figure, representing Geography, presides over the scene, guiding Mercators hand as he uses the dividers.nWebber's signature as the designer and Joannes de Visscher's as the engraver appear in the lower left and right corners, respectively.

Engraver: Visscher, Joannes de

First published: Atlas contractus, sive atlantis majoris compendium Vol.1, Amsterdam: Heirs of Janssonius,1666

Image Size (cm): 44×26

Mapmaker: Webbers, Zacharias

Notes: Purchase details

Primary Category: Titlepage

Rarity: R1 Extremely rare – occasionally seen on the market

Shirley ID #: 54 Courtiers and Cannibals

Technique: Copper Engraving

This state: First