Switzerland, by Jodocus Hondius. c. 1634
The imprint in the centre of the lower edge states that the map was published in the workshop of Jodocus Hondius's son: ex officina Iudoci Hondij F.[ilii]. This wording suggests that Jodocus Hondius Jr. had an older copperplate at his disposal, namely one by his father.
The map is surrounded by decorative borders of town views and costumed figures. Top border: Lucern; S. Gal; Bern; Solothurn; Schafhuysen. In the bottom corners is a view of Basel and one of Zurich.
The Hondius Family
Jodocus Hondius the Elder (1563-1612)
Joost d’Hondt was born at Wakken (Flanders) in 1563. Two years later, his family settled in Ghent, where young Joost displayed an excellent gift for drawing and calligraphy. Through study and lessons, he developed his talents and became an engraver with a good reputation.
Due to the circumstances of the war, he moved to London in 1584, where he settled down as an engraver, instrument-maker, and map-maker. In 1587, he married Coletta van den Keere, sister of the well-known engraver Pieter van den Keere (Petrus Kaerius); some years earlier, his sister, Jacomina, had married Pieter van den Berghe (Petrus Montanus). Joost, who had Latinized his name to Jodocus Hondius, closely co-operated with his two brothers-in-law.
The political situation in the Northern Netherlands in 1593 was such that Jodocus seemed justified in establishing himself in Amsterdam, where many Antwerp printers, publishers, and engravers had gone. In this new centre of cartography, Jodocus Hondius set up his business “In de Wackere Hondt” (in the vigilant dog), this name being an allusion to his birthplace and name. He engraved many maps and published atlases and many other works, such as his continuation of Gerard Mercator’s Atlas.
He suddenly passed away in February 1612. The publishing firm of Jodocus Hondius was continued by his widow, later on, by his two sons, Jodocus Jr. and Henricus, and by his son-in-law, J. Janssonius.
Jodocus Hondius II (1594-1629) & Henricus Hondius (1597-1651)
After the father’s death, the widow and her seven children continued publishing the atlases under the name of Jodocus Hondius till 1620. The firm was reinforced by the very welcome help of Joannes Janssonius (1588-1664), who married 24-year-old Elisabeth Hondius in 1612. After 1619, Mercator’s Atlas was published under the name of Henricus Hondius.
One of the most dramatic events in the early history of commercial cartography in Amsterdam was the sale of Jodocus Hondius Jr.’s copper plates to Willem Jansz. Blaeu in 1629, the year of his death. At least 34 plates, from which Jodocus II had printed single-sheet maps for his benefit, passed into the hands of his great competitor. Immediately after that, his brother, Henricus, and Joannes Janssonius ordered the engraving of identical plates.
Henricus devoted all his energy to publishing the Atlas for an extended period. He saw its growth up to and including the fourth part in 1646; after that, his name no longer figures on the title pages. After 1638, the title of the Atlas was changed to Atlas Novus; Joannes Janssonius mainly carried it on.
The competition with the Blaeu's dates from 1630. In 1630, Willem Janszoon (=Blaeu) first attacked with his Atlantis Appendix. In 1635, Blaeu completed his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in two volumes with French, Latin, Dutch, and German texts, prompting Henricus Hondius to speed up the enlargement of his Atlas.
Nova Helvetiae Tabula.
Item Number: 28003 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Switzerland
Old, antique map of Switzerland, by Jodocus Hondius .
Title: Nova Helvetiae Tabula.
Amstelodami | ex officina | Iudoci Hondij F.
Engraver: Jodocus Hondius.
Date of the first edition: Before 1612. (No copy known).
Date of this map: c. 1634.
Copper engraving, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 410 x 530mm (16.14 x 20.87 inches).
Verso: Blank.
Condition: Original coloured, two additional vertical folds, small repairs at folds and margins.
Condition Rating: B.
References: Van der Krogt 1, 4900:1B.1; Schilder 6, #107.2
From: Composite atlas, c. 1634. - Appeared originally in: Atlantis Maioris Appendix, sive Pars Altera, ... Amsterdam, J. Janssonius, 1630. (Van der Krogt 1, 1:202)
The imprint in the centre of the lower edge states that the map was published in the workshop of Jodocus Hondius's son: ex officina Iudoci Hondij F.[ilii]. This wording suggests that Jodocus Hondius Jr. had an older copperplate at his disposal, namely one by his father.
The map is surrounded by decorative borders of town views and costumed figures. Top border: Lucern; S. Gal; Bern; Solothurn; Schafhuysen. In the bottom corners is a view of Basel and one of Zurich.
The Hondius Family
Jodocus Hondius the Elder (1563-1612)
Joost d’Hondt was born at Wakken (Flanders) in 1563. Two years later, his family settled in Ghent, where young Joost displayed an excellent gift for drawing and calligraphy. Through study and lessons, he developed his talents and became an engraver with a good reputation.
Due to the circumstances of the war, he moved to London in 1584, where he settled down as an engraver, instrument-maker, and map-maker. In 1587, he married Coletta van den Keere, sister of the well-known engraver Pieter van den Keere (Petrus Kaerius); some years earlier, his sister, Jacomina, had married Pieter van den Berghe (Petrus Montanus). Joost, who had Latinized his name to Jodocus Hondius, closely co-operated with his two brothers-in-law.
The political situation in the Northern Netherlands in 1593 was such that Jodocus seemed justified in establishing himself in Amsterdam, where many Antwerp printers, publishers, and engravers had gone. In this new centre of cartography, Jodocus Hondius set up his business “In de Wackere Hondt” (in the vigilant dog), this name being an allusion to his birthplace and name. He engraved many maps and published atlases and many other works, such as his continuation of Gerard Mercator’s Atlas.
He suddenly passed away in February 1612. The publishing firm of Jodocus Hondius was continued by his widow, later on, by his two sons, Jodocus Jr. and Henricus, and by his son-in-law, J. Janssonius.
Jodocus Hondius II (1594-1629) & Henricus Hondius (1597-1651)
After the father’s death, the widow and her seven children continued publishing the atlases under the name of Jodocus Hondius till 1620. The firm was reinforced by the very welcome help of Joannes Janssonius (1588-1664), who married 24-year-old Elisabeth Hondius in 1612. After 1619, Mercator’s Atlas was published under the name of Henricus Hondius.
One of the most dramatic events in the early history of commercial cartography in Amsterdam was the sale of Jodocus Hondius Jr.’s copper plates to Willem Jansz. Blaeu in 1629, the year of his death. At least 34 plates, from which Jodocus II had printed single-sheet maps for his benefit, passed into the hands of his great competitor. Immediately after that, his brother, Henricus, and Joannes Janssonius ordered the engraving of identical plates.
Henricus devoted all his energy to publishing the Atlas for an extended period. He saw its growth up to and including the fourth part in 1646; after that, his name no longer figures on the title pages. After 1638, the title of the Atlas was changed to Atlas Novus; Joannes Janssonius mainly carried it on.
The competition with the Blaeu's dates from 1630. In 1630, Willem Janszoon (=Blaeu) first attacked with his Atlantis Appendix. In 1635, Blaeu completed his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in two volumes with French, Latin, Dutch, and German texts, prompting Henricus Hondius to speed up the enlargement of his Atlas.
Related items
Helvetiae Descriptio Aegidio Tschudo Auct. 1598
Switzerland, by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 3868]
Die erst Tafel innhaltend das Schweytzerlandt mit den anstossenden Ländern. 1588
Switzerland by Sebastian Münster.
[Item number: 14631]
Helvetia Prima Rheni et V Nova Tabula. 1542
Switzerland by Sebastian Munster.
[Item number: 14925]
Exactissima Helvetiae Rhaetiae, Valesiae ... 1683-1696
Switzerland, by Visscher N.
[Item number: 18692]
Helvetia Tredecim Statibus Liberis quos Cantones vocant Composita ... c. 1757.
Switzerland, by Homann Heirs.
[Item number: 22480]
Helvetiae Descriptio Aegidio Tschudo Auct. 1612
Switzerland, by Ortelius A.
[Item number: 22945]
Helvetiae Descriptio Aegidio Tschudo Auct. 1579
SWITZERLAND by Abraham Ortelius
[Item number: 23164]
Novissima et Acuratissima Helvetiae, Rhaetiae, Valesiae et Partis Sabaudiae Tabula 1756
Antique map of Switzerland by Ottens R. & J.
[Item number: 23506]
Nouvelle Description du Pais de Suysse. 1555
Switzerland, by Sebastian Munster.
[Item number: 25172]
Nova Helvetiae, Foederatarumque cum ea, nec non Subditarum Regionum Tabula ... 1730
Switzerland by Guillaume Delisle, published by Covens & Mortier.
[Item number: 25699]
La Suisse. 1713
Switzerland, by Pieter Van der Aa.
[Item number: 26174]
Helvetia cum finitimis regionibus confoederatis. 1641
Switzerland, by Henricus Hondius
[Item number: 26292]
La Suisse Divisee en ses Treize Cantons et ses Allies. 1776-79
Switzerland, by Francesco Santini.
[Item number: 26957]
Helvetia cum finitimis regionibus confoederatis. 1623
Switzerland, by Gerard Mercator.
[Item number: 27884]
Ta . Here . Helve. [From verso] 1525
Switzerland by Lorenz Fries.
[Item number: 28199]
Helvetia Divisa in Tredicem Cantones sive Regiones, Bernam nempe Fruburgum, Solodurum, Basileam, Schafhusiam; Tigurum et Lucernam, cum foederatis Regionibus, numirum Comitatu Neoburgensi, urbe Biela, Resp. Genevensi Abbatia S. Galleni et Vallesia. c. 1702
Switzerland by Gerard & Leonard Valck.
[Item number: 28270]
Helvetiae Rhetiae & Valesiae cum omnibus finitimis regionibus Tabula Vulgo Schweitzerland. c. 1678
Switzerland by Johannes Janssonius.
[Item number: 28538]
Carte Générale des treize Cantons Suisse, et des différents Etats de leur Dépendance; ainsi que la pluspart des Etats qui leur sont voisins et aliez; avec des tables pour l'intelligence de l'Histoire. 1708
Switzerlandx, by Zacharias Châtelain.
[Item number: 29444]
La Suisse divisée en ses Treze Cantons, Ses Alliez & Ses Sujets, c. 1709
Switzerland by Hubert Jaillot, published by Pierre Mortier.
[Item number: 29566]
Affligenium Vulgo Affligem Primaria ac nobilissima in Ducatu Brabantiae, ordinis S. Benedicti Abbatia. 1726
Benedictine Abbey of Affligem, by Antonius Sanderus.
[Item number: 30779]
Early Tavernier with an exclusive text beneath.
Charte de la Suisse, de la Rhetie, ou des Grisons, de la Valtelin, du Valay, c. 1630-1650
Switzerland by Melchior Tavernier.
[Item number: 30851]
The first modern map of the Canton of Graubunden.
Alpinae seu foederatae Rhaetiae subdirarumque ei Terrarum nova descriptio. Grisons en Veltolina. 1630
Italian and Swiss Alps by C.J. Visscher, after Philipp Cluverius.
[Item number: 30936]