This magnificent world map is among the most elaborate and visually appealing examples of seventeenth-century Dutch-inspired cartography published in France. Two large hemispheres are surrounded by a richly engraved decorative framework featuring allegorical representations of the four seasons, the four elements, and the northern and southern celestial hemispheres.

The map was engraved on a new copperplate by Melchior Tavernier, following the influential world map of Jodocus Hondius of 1617, or possibly the closely related Parisian version published by Jacques Honervogt in 1625. Although Tavernier retained the general geographical arrangement and decorative programme of his prototype, his map constitutes a distinct engraved edition.

The western hemisphere presents North and South America, with the eastern coastline of North America comparatively well defined, while the northwestern regions remain largely conjectural. California is represented as a peninsula rather than an island. The Great Lakes are still imperfectly understood, and the interior of the continent contains numerous geographical uncertainties characteristic of early seventeenth-century cartography.

South America is shown with its characteristic broad outline, its principal river systems and numerous early colonial place names. The southern regions extend towards the Strait of Magellan, while the surrounding oceans are populated by finely engraved sailing vessels and sea creatures.

The eastern hemisphere depicts Europe, Africa, Asia and the East Indies. Africa retains a number of traditional geographical features, particularly in its interior and in the representation of the sources of the Nile. The Indian Ocean, the Malay Archipelago and the islands of Southeast Asia reflect the expanding geographical knowledge acquired through Portuguese and Dutch voyages.

The most striking geographical feature is the enormous conjectural southern continent, Terra Australis Incognita, occupying extensive areas of the southern latitudes in both hemispheres. Its coastlines, partly imaginary, reflect the long-standing belief that a great southern landmass was necessary to balance the known continents of the Northern Hemisphere.

An interesting characteristic of Tavernier's engraving is the unusual representation of the ecliptic, which curves north of the equator in the western hemisphere and south of it in the eastern hemisphere.

The map's exceptional appeal lies in its elaborate allegorical ornamentation. The four corners contain beautifully engraved representations of the seasons: Ver (Spring): Gardeners tending an elegant formal garden, with architectural features and carefully laid-out flowerbeds. Aestas (Summer): A pastoral scene devoted to sheep-shearing and the agricultural activities of summer. Autumnus (Autumn): The grape harvest and wine-making, with figures gathering grapes and preparing them for pressing. Hyems (Winter): A lively winter landscape with figures skating on a frozen waterway.

Between the hemispheres are two circular celestial charts, illustrating the constellations of the northern and southern skies. These finely detailed engravings feature classical mythological figures and astronomical symbols.

The surrounding allegorical compositions represent the four classical elements: Terra (Earth), Aqua (Water), Ignis (Fire), and Aer (Air). Together with the seasonal scenes, they transform the map into a comprehensive cosmographical image of the world, combining geography, astronomy, mythology and the natural order.

The decorative programme, together with the numerous ships, sea creatures, cartouches and geographical annotations, makes this one of the most accomplished examples of the richly ornamented world maps of the early seventeenth century.

The present example is the exceptionally rare first state, dated 1630. Tavernier's world map is known in two principal states:

First state, 1630: The original issue, bearing the date 1630 in Tavernier's imprint. Only a very small number of examples have been recorded. Examples were included in the 1632 and 1634 editions of Tavernier's Théâtre géographique. Rodney Shirley records only one example of this state, preserved in the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Paris.

Second state, 1636: The plate was subsequently altered to carry the date 1636. This second state is considerably more frequently encountered and appears in later editions of Tavernier's Théâtre, notably those of 1636 and 1637.

The first state is therefore substantially rarer than the already uncommon later issue.

Tavernier's map illustrates the transmission of Dutch cartographical models into French map publishing during the first half of the seventeenth century. By reproducing Hondius's celebrated composition on a newly engraved plate, Tavernier introduced one of the most influential decorative world-map designs of the period to a French audience.

The combination of geographical detail, astronomical imagery and elaborate allegorical engraving places the map firmly within the tradition of the great Dutch world maps, while its Parisian imprint marks an important stage in the development of the French cartographical publishing industry.

An outstanding example of early French world cartography, distinguished by its extraordinary rarity in the first state of 1630, its magnificent decorative engraving and its attractive contemporary colouring.

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.

The Tavernier Family.

Engravers, booksellers and publishers in Paris.

There were two Melchiors; they flourished concurrently, making their contribution impossible to distinguish.

Melchior Tavernier I, the elder  (1564-1641)

Gabriel Tavernier  (1566-1610)

Flemish engraver.

Melchior Tavernier II, the younger  (1594-1665)

Son of Gabriel Tavernier. Engraver, mapseller and publisher 'dans l'Isle du Palais à la Sphère Royale', Paris.

He sold the works of Hondius, Janssonius and Willem Blaeu as some of the earliest published works of Nicolas Sanson. He sold most of his plates and equipment to Pierre Mariette in 1644.

Jean Bapitiste Tavernier  (1605-1689)

He was the brother of Melchior and later became a merchant, diplomat, and traveller in Turkey, Persia, Central Asia, and the East Indies.