Map Of León And Asturias. Antique, 1638

Fantastic Antique Map of the Kingdom of León and the Principality of Asturias. The Netherlands, 1638

A stunning antique map of the Kingdom of León and the Principality of Asturias, beautifully engraved and hand-colored in period style. The map is over 350 years old: it was published in 1638 by the Dutch engraver Jan Janssonius as part of the *Atlas Novus* he developed together with his brother-in-law Henricus Hodius. The map depicts the aforementioned Spanish territories printed in black ink, surrounded by a delicate frame and featuring their corresponding labels and scales. In the center, at the top, we can see Asturias de Oviedo and Asturias de Santillana, the latter corresponding to what we know today as Cantabria.

Further down is the Kingdom of León, joined to the Principality of Asturias and marked with the name LEGIO. The map depicts the regions rivers and mountain ranges in sepia, while the coastlines and boundaries are colored in yellow, pink, and sepia as well. At the top, we can see a beautiful compass rose printed and colored in red and blue; on the left is a legend explaining the maps symbols in Latin (Notarum Explicatio). Additionally, at the bottom are two magnificent cartouches painted in the same colors, bearing the names of the territories (LEGIONIS REGNUM ET ASTURIARUM PRINCIPATUS) and the scales. On the reverse side of the map, we can see a complete description of the region, printed in Latin.

As beautiful as it is well-crafted, this antique map of the Kingdom of León and the Principality of Asturias deserves a place of honor on the wall of a great collector.

Dimensions: Paper: Width: 57 cm. Height: 48 cm. Engraving: Width: 49 cm. Height: 38 cm.

History of Jan Janssonius

Jan Janssonius (Johannes Janssonius, 15881664) was a Dutch cartographer and publisher, famous for his contribution to the Hondius Atlas. The relationship between Janssonius and Hondius began as a family one, since in 1612 Janssonius married Elisabeth de Hondt, daughter of Jodocus Hondius.

Janssonius was the son of a Dutch publisher and bookseller, and he produced his first maps in 1616, depicting France and Italy. By 1623, he owned a bookstore in Frankfurt and later opened branches in other European cities. In 1630, Janssonius partnered with his brother-in-law Henricus Hondius, and they began publishing the famous Mercator/Hondius/Janssonius atlases. Published under the title *Atlas Novus*, the work comprised three volumes by 1638; in 1646, another volume on Maps of English Counties was published. In 1660, the atlas was renamed *Atlas Major*: by then it consisted of eleven volumes, with contributions from around one hundred authors and engravers. The volumes include an atlas of cities, one of the seas, and another of the ancient world, as well as an Atlas of the Clelians by Andreas Cellarius. After Janssoniuss death, his son-in-law Johannes van Waesberg took over ownership of the publishing house.